Three George III Silver Meat Platters, Robert Sharp (1) / Robert Garrard (2), London, 1789 / 1809

the first with shaped reeded rim, engraved on one side of the border with the Royal Arms and the other side with contemporary arms under a baron's coronet;  the pair oval with gadroon rim, engraved with contemporary arms

The arms on one side of the 1789 Sharp platter are the Royal Arms of George III.  The arms on the other side are those of Grenville impaling Pitt for William Wyndham Grenville (1759-1834), younger brother of George, 1St Marquess of Buckingham, and his wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford, whom he married in 1792 and in 1790 was created Baron Grenville of Wotton-Under-Bernewood. 

overall wear especially to arms, surfaces have been tidied up
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

William Wyndham Grenville held numerous posts, including Joint Paymaster General 1784-89, Vice President of the Board of Trade 1786-89, Speaker of the House of Commons, January to June 1789 (he was not yet 30 years old), Home Secretary 1789-91, and President of the Board of Control 1790-1803.  He became Prime Minister 1806-07, but resigned on the ground of the King's opposition to admitting Roman Catholics to the higher ranks of the Army.  He was a trustee of the British Museum from 1807 until his death in 1834, and was installed as Chancellor of Oxford University in 1810 (The Complete Peerage).

This platter matches a set of four 1789 meat platters by John Scofield engraved with identical arms, sold Sotheby's, New York 20 May 2004, lot 87.  These platters along a set of twelve 1789 dinner plates with matching arms by Fogelberg and Gilbert, offered as lot 204 in this sale, probably would have formed part of Grenville's plate allowance as Speaker.