A George III silver argyle, Fogelberg & Gilbert, London, 1781

the otherwise plain oval body engraved with the Houghton crest below a frieze of viturvian scrolls and beads, the interior with cone-shaped hot-water compartment with detachable cap, complete with detachable crested cover and cradle stand, replacement handle

Garrard & Company Ltd., The Marchioness of Crewe, Inventory of Plate at West Horsley, 20 December 1950, p.3.

the condition of the argyle and its cover is fairly good although there are dents in the body and it appears that the finial has been re-soldered; the condition of the stand is not good, with several hard-solder repairs; the marks on the body (date letter, crown leopard's head, lion passant and maker's mark) are all rubbed or badly struck; the cap for the hot-water cone is unmarked; the lid has the maker's mark and lion passant only, neither of which are well struck; the stand appears to be unmarked; the handle appears to be a 20th Century fibre replacement
"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 unusual design of this argyle is familiar only from the small number of other London-made silver vessels, mostly teapots, which have survived from the last quarter of the 18^th Century. The majority of these bear the maker’s mark, entered on 17 July 1780, of Andrew Fogelberg and Stephen Gilbert; a silver-gilt example of 1784 was given by C.D. Rotch in 1960 to the Victoria and Albert Museum (museum number M.47&A-1960), where the design has been tentatively attributed to the architect, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). Two other teapots of the same design, Fogelberg & Gilbert, London, 1786, and Paul Storr, London, 1799, are illustrated in N.M. Penzer, Paul Storr, London, 1954, p. 86, pl. IV. See also a similar tea caddy on cradle stand, Fogelberg & Gilbert, London, Sotheby’s, London, 18 May 1967, lot 63; and a cut-glass sugar bowl in similar stand, part of a tea service, Andrew Fogelberg/Fogelberg & Gilbert, London, 1772/83, retailed by Jefferys & Jones, Christie’s, London, 9 November 1966, lot 43.