One of a pair of silver-gilt waiters made by William Burwash for William Beckford, that sold for £36,000 at Woolley & Wallis last week.
They were offered at Woolley & Wallis's January 27 silver sale as part of the estate of the latest resident of Fonthill Old Abbey, the late Niel Rimington.
The 7in (17.6cm), 22oz waiters, marked for London 1817 were possibly designed by Gregorio Franchi, Beckford's friend and Portuguese agent.
Beckford was obsessed with his lineage, and incorporated the Beckford crest, into most of his furnishings. The waiters are engraved to the underside with this crest along with the crest of Augmentation, an oak tree traversed by a frame, assigned under the authority of the Earl Marshall, dated 20 March 1810.
Estimated at £15,000-20,000, the Beckford connection drew strong competition and they sold to the London trade.
