Regency Silver Centerpiece by Matthew Boulton Plate Co.

This remarkable Regency silver centerpiece by the Matthew Boulton Plate Co. displays the artistry and high-quality craftsmanship associated with the Boulton name. A Renaissance man in the truest sense of the word, Boulton was one of the most important innovators, manufacturers and businessmen of the Georgian age, working closely with Scottish inventor James Watt, who famously invented the modern steam engine in the 1760s. Boulton was also responsible for applying modern techniques to the minting process, working to strike millions of pieces for Britain and other countries. His contributions to the decorative arts as a silversmith, however, represent his flair for the artistic, and his silver creations display the same ingenuity, extraordinary quality and attention to detail that he applied to all aspects of his life.

This centerpiece, crafted by Matthew Boulton Plate Co., embodies the silversmith's design ethos. Masterfully formed, it features pierced borders in an elaborate open work floral motif, with further floral sprays around each corner. The base is adorned by four heraldic panels featuring the arms of the Pepys family, which are surrounded by the motto, Mens cujusque is est quisque, meaning "As is the mind, so is the man." 

Hallmarked Birmingham, 1830

9 1/2" wide x 9 1/2" deep x 7" high