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Set of 12 Antique Silver George III Old English Pattern Dessert Forks made in 1802
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A fine set of twelve George III period silver dessert forks in the old English pattern.
| Date | 1802 |
| Made By | George Smith & William Fearn, William Eley & William Fearn |
| Location | London |
| Stock Number | FA246x20 |
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Set of 12 Antique Silver George III Old English Pattern Dessert Forks made in 1802
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A fine set of twelve George III period silver dessert forks in the old English pattern.
They are all engraved to the reverse with a lion rampant family crest on a Fleur de lis and are in excellent condition.
The forks are made in London in 1802 by William Eley and William Fearn of London (1 fork 1795 George Smith and William Fearn).
They are all engraved to the reverse with a lion rampant family crest on a Fleur de lis and are in excellent condition.
Sets of early dessert forks like this are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Dimensions, length 16.6 cm.
Weight, 13 troy oz.
George Smith III and William Fearn became partners in 1786 and remained so until around 1792.
The maker’s initials for William Fearn first appeared around 1772, although he was apprenticed to Thomas Chawner in 1762.
George Smith III and George Smith IV were father and son. It is believed that William Fearn was made bankrupt in 1777.
Later he also worked with William Eley and William Chawner.
William Eley I was the son of George Eley and was apprenticed to William Fearn in 1770. His first mark was registered in 1778, in partnership with George Pierrepont (46 Little Bartholomew Close). Soon after, William Eley I registered various marks alone; in 1778 (4 New Street, Cloth Fair and 2 George Street, Martins-le-Grand), 1785, 1790 and 1795 (14 Clerkenwell Green). Marks, in partnership with William Fearn, were registered in 1797 (14 Clerkenwell Green) and 1802 (1 Lovell’s Court, Paternoster Row).
In 1808, William Chawner entered into the partnership and a new mark was entered with the initials of William Eley I, William Fearn and William Chawner.
In 1814, William Chawner left the partnership and new marks of William Eley I and William Fearn were entered in 1814 and 1824.
William Eley I had three sons: William II, Charles and Henry. All were apprenticed to their father and became silversmiths. William Eley II was apprenticed in 1808, and obtained his freedom in 1815. Charles was apprenticed in 1811, and obtained his freedom in 1818. Henry was apprenticed in 1814, and obtained his freedom in 1822.
William Eley I died in 1824, and his sons William Henri I, Charles Eley and Henry Eley entered a conjoined mark in the same year. The partnership had a short duration, and William II and Charles Eley entered their own mark on 19 January 1825. William II entered further marks in 1815 and 1826. He died in 1841.
There is some confusion in the genealogy and marks of Eley family. There are discrepancies between different authors. On this page we followed the chronology of John P. Fallon in his Marks of London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, Georgian Period, (c. 1697 – 1837).
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For Europe £30.00
For the rest of World £50.00
The charges are subject to change
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