A Pair of George III Silver Oval Baskets and Stands, John Wakelin & William Taylor, London, 1790

the fluted domed bases on bud feet, partly pierced and applied with bellflowers, with Vitruvian scroll borders and ring handles headed by rams' heads, applied with ribbon-tied medallions engraved with arms

The arms are those of John, 4th Earl Poulett, and his wife Sofia, whom he married in 1782.

Charles and Yvette Bluhdorn, New York, sold
Sotheby's, New York, Magnificent Silver, Silver-gilt and Russian Works of Art from the Estate of Charles and Yvette Bluhdorn, 13 October 2007, lot 42

arms of the period, 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.

A military man, Poulett was Colonel in the East Devon Militia (1778-1803), a Colonel in the Army, and a Colonel in the Somerset Fencible Calvary and the 1st (East) Somerset Militia.  He was Lord Lieutenant of Somerset from 1792 until his death, a Lord of the Bedchamber (1795-1815), and was created a Knight of the Thistle in 1794.

His wife Sofia was the daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Pocock, K.B., by Sophia Pitt, sister and co-heir of Dawson Drake and daughter of George Drake, both Governors of Madras.  Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, noted: "Lady Hinton is the oldest little woman I ever saw - very young and so childish and vulgar that one is amazed every now and then to hear her come out with very clever things. She was a great fortune, she has a comical ugly face, and her waist is longer than her legs."  She died in 1811 and he remarried Margaret, widow of Sir John Smith-Burgess.  He died of apoplexy in 1819, his widow in 1818.

In 1792 Philip, 5th Earl of Chesterfield bought a set of three baskets of this model.  The "2 small chased epergne bason & table" weighed 101.13oz, charged at 10/6 per ounce for a total cost of £53.7.4.  Parker and Wakelin also supplied four "glass basons" (thus two extras) for 14 shillings.  The Chesterfield examples were sold Christie's, London, 27 June 1973, lot 9.