The dishes, offered for £7000 the pair, bear the arms of Robert Henry Clive (1789-1854) a British Conservative party politician and grandson of the well-known Clive of India. The dishes were almost certainly a gift on the occasion of his wedding to Lady Harriet, daughter of the 5th Earl of Plymouth.
Rundell was a leading craftsman of his day, appointed jeweller and silversmith to the king in 1797. On his death, he left an estate of £1.5m to his nephew Joseph Nield, who in turn left his fortune to Queen Victoria, bolstering the wealth of the British royal family.
Winter Olympia ran from November 5-10 on the gallery level of the exhibition centre where the Spirit of Christmas Fair took place. Both are run by Clarion Events. The format, which launched last year, was devised partly to attract new visitors.
This year, jewellery specialist Wimpole Antiques sold a stand-out piece to a visitor from downstairs. Other Spirit shoppers bought from British art dealer Freya Mitton and purchased a Picasso lithograph from Dinan & Chighine.
Elsewhere in the fair, Mark Goodger sold a game box priced at £6800, newcomer Thomas Spencer Fine Art parted with nine paintings and Philip Carrol found a new home for a large Chinese porcelain barber’s bowl offered for £1450.
Speaking with ATG during the fair, several dealers said that the event was still a destination for clients and ‘old-school’ collectors. Fair director Mary Clare Boyd said: “While sales can take longer to secure in this climate, it is encouraging that many dealers are expecting follow-up business as a result of the fair.”
