A George III silver dessert basket and stand, John Wakelin and Robert Garrard, London, 1796

oval, each raised on four bud feet, ram's mask drop ring handles, ribbon-tied roundels, the stands engraved The Gift to Sir Lucas Pepys Bar^{t From HRH The Princess royal 1797}, later glass liner, the underside engraved with scratch weight 79 = 8

Associated Literature:

Robert Rowe, Adam Silver 1765-1795, Faber and Faber, London, 1965, plate 66.

One bud foot of basket slightly bent and therefore ill-fitting with stand but easily restored, good clear hallmarks, otherwise in very good condition overall. The base 38.5cm, 15 1/4 in wide
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The recipient of this fruit dish and stand was the distinguished doctor, Sir Lucas Pepys, 1^st Bt. He was born in 1742, a younger son of the London banker, William Pepys (1698-1743) of Ridley Hall, Cheshire, and educated at Eton and Christchurch, Oxford. Pepys subsequently studied medicine in Edinburgh before removing to London where in 1769 he was elected physician to the Middlesex Hospital. His continued success in the profession eventually brought him to the notice of the Royal Family and in 1777 his appointment as physician extraordinary to George III was followed in 1784 by a knighthood.

Sir Lucas attended George III during his indisposition of 1788/89, and afterwards the King's eldest daughter, Princess Charlotte, the Princess Royal (1766-1828). She was married as his second wife to the Hereditary Prince Frederick of Württemberg, the future King of Württemberg, on 18 May 1797 at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, London.

Sir Lucas Pepys's first wife was Jane Elizabeth Leslie, Countess of Rothes, daughter of John Hamilton, 10^th Earl of Rothes, whom he married at Brighton, Sussex, on 31 October 1772. Their only daughter, Henrietta (1777-1839), was married in 1804 to William Courtenay, 10^th Earl of Devon (1777-1859).