A George I silver tea caddy

A George I silver tea caddy,

by John Farnell, London 1716,

rectangular form, canted corners, slide-off top with a domed pull-off cover with a ball finial, height 11.3cm, approx. weight 5.9oz.

The shield is that of Wigley of Middleton, Derbyshire.

Provenance: Edgar Assheton Bennett, and thence by descent to the present owner.

Edgar Assheton Bennett was a connoisseur of silver. A rich stockbroker, he amassed a valuable collection which is now one of the finest in the country. The collection was formed in the early 20th century when the contents of many large houses were sold. Although Bennett bought some very rare early pieces, he focused on the elegant English domestic silver made in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He chose work by the best silversmiths of the day, including many influential French religious refugees. A silver scholar was employed to write a catalogue, published and circulated privately in 1931. Reference Manchester City Galleries, where some of his collection is housed.