Silver & Collectors' Items - Day 1 and Day 2 - 29th April 2014

Lot 1362

A William IV presentation silver soup tureen and cover

Estimate £8,000 - £12,000 | Hammer £12500

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Description

A William IV presentation silver soup tureen and cover, a set of four entree dishes and covers and a two-handled tray,

by John Watson and Son, Sheffield 1832,

lobed oval form, leaf capped scroll handles, shell and scroll borders, the domed pull-off cover with a handle modelled as the Honrby crest, on four heavy foliate scroll bracket feet, engraved with the Hornby crest, the entree dishes of shaped oval form, foliate scroll border, the handles modelled as the Hornby crest, the tray of shaped oval form, heavy foliate scroll border, on four pierced bracket feet, all pieces inscribed 'Presented to William Henry Hornby Esquire, by his fellow townsmen and friends, as a token of the high esteem which they entertain of his political principles and firm and manly conduct driving the proceedings connected with the first election of a members of Parliament for the Borough od Blackburn in December 1832' , in a fitted wooden trunk, length of soup tureen 43.5cm, length of tray handle to handle 78.5cm, length of entree dish and cover 34cm, approx. total weight 545oz.

William Henry Hornby had a distinguished career in both politics and commerce, with his mill in Blackburn employing around 1400 employees. He was Chariman of the Conservative party and Member of Parliament for Blackburn from 1857-1865. During an election riot in 1835, Hornby was thrown over the parapet of old Salford bridge by an infuriated mob, and in 1841 during a similar riot he recalled "... It was then hardly safe for me to walk through the streets; my house was in danger and at last it was attacked, about 8 o'clock in the evening and every window was smashed. Fortunately I got back there before the front door was opened, and and having a brace of pistols, I discharged one, and every man of that gallant crew ran away". His sons, Edward and William, were also MPs for Blackburn, and his third son, Albert, was the England cricket captain who lost the Test match which gave rise to the Ashes, at home against the Australians in 1882.