Regency Silver Gilt Tray by Rundell and Jackson

The ultimate names in silversmithing and engraving joined forces to create this incredible Regency silver-gilt tray. This remarkable piece was crafted by Philip Rundell and engraved by Walter Jackson for Hugh Percy, the 3rd Duke of Northumberland. Set upon eight paired lion’s paw feet, this monumental tray is bordered by excellent gadrooning with incredibly detailed handles formed to resemble oak leaves and branches. The engraving executed by Jackson is the finest and most precise we have ever seen. The Duke’s coat of arms and coronet are encircled by delicate ribbon and rosette swags joined by oval paterae. 

In terms of makers, quality, and provenance, this tray is amazing. Philip Rundell, of the famed firm of Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell, served as “Jewelers and Goldsmiths to the King” as appointed by King George III in 1789. The firm counted numerous members of the Royal Family and the social elite as their clientele for over 50 years. The bold, rich engraving is clearly the work of Walter Jackson, who is widely regarded as the premier engraver of the early 19th century. He was often summoned by the Royal Goldsmiths on their most prestigious commissions and had worked for Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell from 1803 onward. 

Hugh Percy was a popular politician who was known for his love of extravagance. This is apparent by his orders from Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell who supplied large quantities of silver and silver-gilt from 1822 to 1831, including the present tray. Many of these commissions are recorded in the Percy Letters in the Duke of Northumberland's archives. Rundell also gilded and repaired pieces in the Duke's existing collection, and provided insurance for the transport of the Duke's silver to France when he traveled there in 1825 as Special Ambassador at the coronation of Charles X. Indeed the Duke's probate inventory, prepared after his death in 1847, show that at the Northumberland House alone, there were what amounted to 29 large chests filled with silver.

Hallmarked London, 1823 

31” wide x 20 7/8” deep