A London delftware Royal blue dash charger, c.1690-95, painted with a full length standing portrait

A London delftware Royal blue dash charger, c.1690-95, painted with a full length standing portrait of King William III, crowned and holding an orb and sceptre, wearing a long ermine robe, flanked by trees, inscribed 'WR3', within a blue dash and yellow border rim, the underside with a buff lead glaze, a faint rim crack, 34.5cm.

Provenance: Sir Henry Sutcliffe-Smith (1864-1938) and thence by descent.

Sir Henry Sutcliffe-Smith was born in Halifax, the only surviving son of Frederick Smith and Martha Sutcliffe. From school he joined Edward Ripley & Sons, Bowling Dyeworks and followed an illustrious career in the textile industry. A special tableaux he designed for the Brussels Exhibition in 1910 earned three Grands Prix for the worsted industry of Bradford and earned Sir Henry a special diploma and a gold medal from the Belgian government. His career was largely centred around Bradford where he held positions including President of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, President of the Colour Council, Chairman of the Colour Users’ Association, Chairman of the local Conservative Association and Chairman of the Bradford branch of the RNLI. He had a keen interest in art and antiques, putting together a collection at his home at Ingerthorpe Grange, Ripon, that drew the attention of Queen Mary when Sir Henry entertained her at a tea party in 1935. He established a collection of Lord Nelson memorabilia which is housed at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. His love of art led him to become a Fellow of the British Institute of Industrial Art, and of the Royal Society of Arts.