A Set of Four George III Silver-Gilt Salts on Stands, Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith, London, 1803-04

William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844), by descent to

Lancelot, 6th Earl of Lonsdale O.B.E. (1867-1953), sold

Christie's, London, February 19-20, 1947, lot 220 (set of 12; £170 to M. Hedges)

Christie's, London, October 6, 1948, lot 81 (£60 to Black)

The crest is that of William, Viscount and Baron Lowther (1757-1844), created 1st Earl of Lonsdale in 1807. He married Augusta, eldest daughter of John, 9th Earl of Westmorland, in 1781. The Earl was a significant patron of the arts and commissioned the rebuilding of Lowther Castle. He was one of the great patrons of plate in the Regency era, including owning one of the Shields of Achilles (now Anglesey Abbey, National Trust). The Hartmans formerly owned several lots with this provenance, see Christie's, New York, 20 October 1999, lots 180-181.

The present group of four salt cellars was originally part of a group of twelve, hallmarked for 1803, 1804, 1808 and 1810, which was dispersed in the Lonsdale sale in 1947. They can be compared to a group of 36 salt cellars in the Royal Collection, designed in an even more pronounced Egyptian taste with sphinx heads (RCIN 50821). These, part of the 'Grand Service', were produced by Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith, and Philip Rundell, between 1802-19 (see Carlton House: The Past Glories of George IV's Palace, 1991, p. 131, no. 92). Another set, with lion head and shield supports by Benjamin and James Smith of 1810, sold at Christie's, London, October 23, 1991, lot 47.