A SET OF FOUR GEORGE IV SILVER-GILT WINE COASTERS FROM THE SAMPIAO SERVICE, CRADOCK & REID, LONDON, 1822

Henrique Teixeira de Sampaio, Barão de Teixeira and later 1st Conde de Póvoa (1774-1833), then by descent to his son

João Maria de Noronha, 2nd Conde de Póvoa (1826-1837) on whose death in 1837 the titles became extinct and the family fortunes, and the dinner service, passed to his sister

Marie Louise de Noronha Sampaio who married Domingos António Pedro de Sousa Holstein, later the 2nd Duke of Palmela (1818-1864) and by descent in the family of the Dukes of Palmela at Casa Palmela.

Sotheby's, London, November 6, 2014, lot 64

Exhibition catalogue, Una Familia de Coleccionadores Poder e Cultura, Lisbon, 2001, pp. 220-224.

Henrique Teixera de Sampaio (1774-1833) was born in the Azores, but had a very successful career first as a merchant, with particular ties to England. He was appointed in 1807 as Commissioner of Army Supplies for the Anglo-Portuguese forces, seeking to prevent Napoleon's invasion of Portugal, and the sums earned here made him one of the richest men in Portugal. He then became a statesman, serving as Minister of Finance and President of the Exchequer, and receiving many awards and decorations.

In 1816 the title 1st Lord de Sampaio was conferred upon him by King John VI in Rio de Janeiro. In 1819, he was named 1st Barao de Teixeira. He made extensive loans to the state Treasury, and when the Bank of Lisbon was founded in 1822, he was the biggest shareholder; this earned him the title 1st Conde de Póvoa in 1823.

These coasters are part of the extensive service for 180 persons, ordered by the Barao de Teixeira from Paul Storr in 1822-23. This was exactly at the moment that Storr, who left Rundell, Bridge and Rundell in 1819, opened a retail shop in New Bond Street in partnership with John Mortimer. The Sampaio service represents one of the most elaborate productions of the new shop, and proves its ability to rival Rundell's. However, for these coasters, Storr subcontracted to Craddock & Reid, who produced pieces matching Storr's in richness.

The service included a pair of large soup tureens and a pair of four-light candelabrum centerpieces, sold Sotheby's, New York, 28-29 October 1988, lots 218-219; an eight-light centerpiece presented to the Preservation Society of Newport County by Mr. & Mrs. Claus von Bulow, a pair of smaller soup tureens sold Christie's, New York, 20 October 1999, lot 206, from the collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, a pair of sauce boats sold from the same 11 April 1995, lot 264, and a suite of six candelabra, the same rooms, 19 April 2002, lot 348.