A set of twelve George III silver soup plates, John Wakelin & William Taylor, London, 1786

shaped circular with gadroon rim, engraved with a contemporary coat of arms on drapery mantle under earl's coronet, fully marked below rims, bases with scratch weights 18=1, 18=5, 18=7, 18=9, 18=11, 18=12 (2), 18=13, 18=16, 18=17, 18=18, 19=3.

S.J. Shrubsole, New York, 2000

light scratches from use, one with ding to base, otherwise good
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 arms are those of Hill, for Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough, later 1^st Marquess of Downshire, 3^rd but only surviving son and heir of Trevor, 1^st Viscount Hillsborough and Baron Hill of Kilwarlin, co. Down, born 1718, M.P. for Warwick 1741-56, being also elected for Huntingdon 1741, Governor and  Custos Rot. co. Down 1742 till his death. He succeeded his father 5 May 1742 in the titles above,taking his seat in the House of Lords 11 November 1743, P.C. (Ireland) 1746, created in 1751 Viscount Kilwarlin and Earl of Hillsborough, P.C. 1754, Comptroller of the Household 1754-55, Treasurer of the Chamber 1755-56. On 17^th November 1756 he was created Lord Harwich, Baron Harwich, co. Essex; Joint Registrar in Chancery for Ireland 1759-93, First Lord of Trade 1763-65 and again 1766 and 1768-72. F.R.S. 1764, Joint Postmaster General 1766-68, Secretary of State for the Colonies 1768-72, D.C.L. Oxford. On  28 August 1772 he was created Viscount Fairford, co. Gloucester and Earl of Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the South 1779-1782, being as such one of Lord North’s administration during the close of the war with America. On 20 August 1789 he was created Marquess of Downshire, Hereditary Constable of Hillsborough Fort F.S.A. 1971. He married first in 1747 Margaretta sister of James 1^st Duke of Leinster. She was born 1729 and died in 1766 in Naples. He married secondly in 1768 Mary, suo jure Baroness Stawell of Somerton; she was born in 1726 and died in 1780. He died in 1793 at Hillsborough. Known for his strutting and his naps, Horace Walpole wrote of him in 1772, ”He was, indeed a man of more pomp than solidity, very ambitious, changeable, and false to his friends, clear in none of his ideas but in the determination of pursuing his interest, but always losing esteem faster than he raised his fortune” ( The Complete Peerage).