Of heavy gauge silver, in the Hanoverian Pattern with three tines and upturned tips,

one terminal with crest of a demi-eagle rising, in mouth a horseshoe for the family of Welles (Wells)*;

one with probable very early crest removal;

the visible leopard's head is either 1725, due to the pointed shield (see below),

or a George II mark whose shield gained a point in the marking;

Paul Hanet's mark clearly visible, registered 1721

*THE CREST OF THE FAMILY OF WELLES

 The crest as engraved upon this Assembled Pair of George III English Sterling Silver Three Time Table Forks one of which is by Paul Hanet hallmarked London circa 1721 – 40 is that of the family of Welles. It may be blazoned as follows:

Crest: A demi ostrich with wings displayed argent ducally gorged and chained* holding in its beak a horseshoe (….?....)

* Owing to rubbing of the engraving the chain has become indistinct.

This crest undoubtedly pertains to the family of Welles or its variant spelling of Wells. The blazon as cited above was that of the crest of Baron Welles. Other Welles families bore this same crest with variants of tincture (colour) and the ostrich is sometimes stated to be ‘ducally gorged’ but without the ‘chain’. In all versions of this crest, the demi ostrich is ‘argent’ but in one version its wings are ‘sable’, whilst the ducal coronet around its neck is either ‘or’ or ‘gules’. The horseshoe it holds in its beak is generally blazoned as being ‘azure’ which undoubtedly without any evidence to the contrary is the case with the crest as borne by Baron Welles in the medieval period.

The Welles families who bore this crest appear to have at one time to have resided in the County of Suffolk according to one authority

Condition : overall very good, with normal nicks and scratches (including the tines verso);

good patinas, not having been over-polished

7.5” Long / 4.6 oz

SOLD  

#6568a

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Set of Three George I Silver Hanoverian 3-Tine Table Forks

England, c1720, Marks Rubbed and Cast Over