A pair of George III silver two-handled butter dishes

A pair of George III silver two-handled butter dishes,

by Thomas Heming, London 1778,

oval form, reed bifurcated scroll handles, the frame with pierced garlands of swags, on with fluted legs on an oval base on four leaf capped paw feet, engraved with a crest below a viscount's coronet, with later blue glass liners, length handle to handle 31.3cm, height 12.4cm, approx. weight 54oz. (2)

The crests are those of Murray, for David, 7th Viscount Stormont K.T. (1727-1796), later 2nd Earl Mansfield,

Provenance: David 7th Viscount Stormont K.T., and then by descent to the current owner.