Room 52 (Silver and Watches)

1.“Monteith” bowl. London 1684, George Garthorne

Monteith bowls are notched at the edge to allow wine glasses to be hung by their feet and immersed in cold water. The form was humorously named after a “fantastical Scot” who wore a notched cloak. It was fashionable from 1683, so this is an early example.

The coat of arms are apparently those of the family of Mildmay impaling another, but the marriage to which the impalement refers is as yet unidentified; it is possible the arms are of later date.
The flat-chased decoration is a type of fantastical chinoiserie distinctive of English silver in the 1680s.

2. Dish. London 1695, Pierre Harache

In the next case along to your right you can see another silver dish also made by Pierre Harache. This dish would have formed part of a large toilet service known to have been at Burghley House during the nineteenth century. It is not yet known who it was made for.

Look closely at the spectacular engraving, which is in an exceptional state of preservation. Blaise Gentot, whose identity has only recently been discovered, was a French engraver active in London in the 1690s.