George III sterling covered brandy pan, 1795

Here is a fine sterling brandy pan and cover made by John Wakelin and Robert Garrard in 1795. This is equivalent to a "super group" of 18th century silversmiths, because both Wakelin and Garrard, excellent silversmiths in their own right, are descendants of great silversmith dynasties. Their short, but illustrious, partnership ran from 1792 to 1802. The pan is in very good condition, with good hallmarks, showing a minimum evidence of age. The ivory finial has, as expected, age cracks, but certainly not disintegrating. The wooden handle has a small chunk, about 0.5" x 0.125", missing where it meets the pan. The body of the pan has a couple of tiny dings. In my opinion, just part of the pan's history, like wrinkles on a human. Both body and cover bear a crest of a lion holding, what appears to be, a sheaf of wheat. Together with a complete set of hallmarks on the base is the name J.W.Arrott 1926. He represents the American Dream. Of poor Irish origins he rose to found American Standard, J.W.Arrott Insurance Co., and raise the Arrott Building, which in 1901, when it was completed, the tallest building in Pittsburgh. The base is also engraved with the figures 14-0. This is the weight in Troy ounces at the time it was made. Today's weight would be a bit less than that due to erosion through polishing over the years. A sharp-eyed observer would note that the weight seems to have increased ! The reason for this is that a typical brandy pan would be just that, without the lid. So the inscribed weight was the weight of the pan on its own. Today it weighs 13.5 Troy oz. The lid, although it bears the same hallmarks as the pan, was an optional extra. Dimensions: Length 10.5". Diameter of pan 5". Height to finial 4.25". Weight 16 Troy oz.