Teapot
Benjamin Smith
Category
Silver
Date
1805 - 1809
Materials
Silver-gilt and ivory
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609224
Summary
Silver-gilt teapot with circular flat body and hinged lid with rosette and serpent finial, on circular foot. Female mask to high ivory handle and foliate spray to spout. Greek key pattern band with beaded and palm leaf borders. Accompanied by a matching silver-gilt helmet-shaped cream jug with wide curved lip, raised on circular foot, and a silver-gilt sugar basin, the body with fluted base, raised on circular foot. Makers' marks for Benjamin Smith II (teapot); Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith (cream jug); Benjamin and James Smith (sugar basin). From 1802 Benjamin Smith II and Digby Scott managed the Greenwich workshop of the Royal Goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. Scott may have retired around 1807, and Smith recorded a succession of marks, one in partnership with his brother, James. Benjamin Smith then moved to Camberwell as an independent manufacturer of silverware in 1814.
Provenance
Presumed to be part of William Noel-Hill’s Ambassadorial service. William Noel-Hill, 3rd Baron Berwick (1773-1842) who had been in Italy as British Envoy and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies. By descent bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Marks and inscriptions
Lion Passant standard mark; Sovereign's Head duty mark; 'M' date letter; London Assay Office mark; 'BS' maker's mark. Scratchmark '5892'. See NOTES below.
Makers and roles
Benjamin Smith, maker