119oz Antique English Sterling Silver Platter – 1787 George III Wakelin & Taylor – Armorial, Bluhdorn Estate

An exceptional 18th-century sterling silver meat platter, crafted in 1787 by John Wakelin & William Taylor, royal silversmiths to King George III. This piece was produced at the highest level of Georgian court silver — never merchant stock — and bears a unique armorial engraving.

Weighing approximately 119 troy ounces and measuring 23.5 inches, it features a raised fluted border with a beaded rim. The engraved crest depicts a boar’s head erased, erect (looking vertically upward), with a curled tongue and a vertical pallet — a rare heraldic configuration under active lineage research. The quality and orientation suggest noble lineage, possibly linked to the Tyrrell family or a related peerage line.

Hallmarks:

Lion Passant – Sterling (.925)

Crowned Leopard’s Head – London Assay Office

Date Letter “M” – 1787

Duty Mark – Reign of George III

Maker’s Mark – I·W / W·T (Wakelin & Taylor)

Provenance:

Estate of Charles & Yvette Bluhdorn – Prominent collectors

Sotheby’s New York, Oct 13, 2007 — Sale N08395, Lot 935

Original invoice included

Condition:

Visible surface scratches from age and use, typical for 18th-century serviceware. No dents or structural flaws. Displays cleanly with original patina and crisp detail on crest and rim.

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