Antique Victorian Silver Salts from John S. Hunt, 1855, Set of 4

Antique mid 19th Century Victorian solid silver set of four salts, formed as tritons pulling shells on wave chased bases, richly gilt throughout the body and inside. The base and salts are all stamped, with an engraving on the bases "Hunt & Roskell Late Storr & Mortimer 7955".

Hallmarked English sterling silver (925 standard), London, year 1855 (U), Makers mark (ISH) John Samuel Hunt.

This design is attributed to the sculptor and painter William Theed (1764-1817) due to its resemblance to his bronze group *Thetis Returning from Vulcan with the Arms of Achilles*. This sculpture, which depicts Thetis in a shell chariot drawn by a triton, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1812 and is now part of the Royal Collection. Another version of the piece was recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Theed began working for Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell in 1803 as a designer and chief modeler. In 1810, they supplied twenty-four salts of this model, marked for Paul Storr, London, to the Prince Regent (refer to *Royal Treasures: A Golden Jubilee Celebration, The Queen's Gallery, 2002, no. 184, p. 263*). A drawing of this design, titled "Designs for Plate etc. by John Flaxman" circa 1820, is featured in the "Rundell's album" at the Victoria and Albert Museum (E.114-1964). This drawing is likely by the sculptor Edward Hodges Baily, who became a pupil of John Flaxman in 1807, during a period when Flaxman was designing silver for Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell. In 1833, Baily began working for Storr and Mortimer, the predecessors of Hunt and Roskell, whose retailer's stamp is found on the present lot.

CONDITION
In Great Condition - Wear expected with age. Please refer to photographs.

SIZE
Height: 12 cm // 4.72 in
Width: 12 cm // 4.72 in
Depth: 8 cm // 3.15 in
Weight Total: 2280g