A George III Set of Four Rams’ Masks Silver Gilt Salts. Of Navette Form and Engraved with Floral Garlands. The Sides with Applied Oval Vignettes, One of a Horse and Lion and the other of Two Recumbent Lions. Raised on Four Acanthus Leaf Capped Scroll Feet.
One of the applied vignettes after a George Stubb's Horse and Lion, painting series from 1770. The horse and lion indicating the struggle of good against evil. The other vignette after the Paul Reubens's Study of Lions series. Reubens demonstrated the anatomical study of lions, portraying their regal authority and power.
A similar set sold by Christie's, also by William Pitts 1783, were supplied by the Royal Goldsmiths Jefferys and Jones to John, 3rd Duke of Dorset (1745-1799) for his embassy to Paris in 1784. Identical, save for differing vignettes.
Each salt is hallmarked for London 1783 by William Pitts.
Approximate weight of all four salts is 925 grams or 29.7 troy ounces.
