A Set of Twelve George III Silver Dinner Plates, Andrew Fogelberg and Stephen Gilbert, London, 1789

shaped circular with reeded rims, the borders engraved on one side with contemporary arms and supporters beneath a baron's coronet, and the Royal Badge on the other

The arms on one side 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.  

surface with overall wear and some scratches from use, otherwise good condition
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).

The engraved arms on these plates match a 1789 meat platter by Robert Sharp, offered in this sale as lot 191.   Additionally a set of four 1789 meat platters by John Scofield engraved with identical arms were sold Sotheby's, New York 20 May 2004, lot 87.  These plates and platters probably would have formed part of Grenville's plate allowance as Speaker.