The London Company of Stationers: A George III Silver Nine-basket Epergne, Thomas Pitts, London, 1780

the oval frame raised on four paw feet headed by elongated leaves, linked by swags of husks and pendant beaded oval cartouches below a band of pierced rings joined by flowerheads, centered by an urn finial, the central oval basket with gadrooned lower body, the sides pierced to match and engraved with presentation inscription, both sides with beaded circular reserved engraved with contemporary arms, the eight reeded leaf-capped scroll branches surmounted by leaf-tips and four matching small oval baskets and four small circular baskets each engraved with flower crest

This epergne was purchased by the Stationer's Company, London, with £37 10s left as a legacy by Sir Stephen Theodore Janssen, Lord Mayor of London, founder of the Battersea Enamel Company, Trustee for the Colony of Georgia, and brother-in-law to Charles, 5th Baron Baltimore and to Thomas Bladen, Governor of Maryland.  The Company had to pay an additional £12 10s. of its own funds.

lead solder reinforcements to flanges underneath several baskets, not visible from outside, otherwise good, engraving crisp
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.

The inscription on the central basket reads: "The Bequest of Sir Stephen Theodore Janfsen BARONET Chamberlain of London MDCCLXXVII."

Sir Stephen Theodore Janssen, 4th Baronet (d. 1777) was a son of Dutch-born financier Theodore Jansen.  He succeeded his two elder brothers, the 2nd and 3rd Baronets, in 1766.  In 1753 he founded the Battersea enamel factory, and he was also president of the Anti-Gallican Society; at the same time, though, two of his brothers were resident in Paris, and have been linked with the commissioning of Thomas Germain's boars' head tureens (see Sotheby's, 13 November, 1996, lot 3).  In 1754 he served as Lord Mayor of London.  One of his sisters amrried Charles, 5th Baron Baltimore, while another married Thomas Bladen, Governor of Maryland.  His connection with the American colonies was strengthened by his serving as a Trustee for the Colony of Georgia.

The Court Minutes of the Stationers' Company note a meeting 2 May 1780, when it was resolved:
That £12.10s be advanced out of the Corporation Stock to make up (with the £37.10s already received) the legacy left by Sir Stephen Janssen to this Company for a piece of plate.

We would like to thank Sue Hurley, Archivist for the Company, for her help with this lot.