Important Pair of George IV Sterling Silver Cream Jug and Sugar Bowl
Paul Storr Workshop, London, 1828
Retailed by Edward & John Dix, London
With East India Company–Related Engraving (Chunar Fort) and Heraldic Crest
Description
A fine and substantial matched pair of English sterling silver comprising a cream jug and sugar bowl, produced in London in 1828 and attributed to the celebrated workshop of Paul Storr, the preeminent English silversmith of the early 19th century. The pieces bear full and clear London hallmarks including the lion passant (sterling standard), crowned leopard’s head (London assay office), date letter for 1828, and duty mark for George IV. Each is additionally stamped “E & J DIX”, identifying the respected London retailers Edward & John Dix.
The pair is of high Regency quality, with elegant classical proportions, finely cast and applied decoration, and distinctive figural handles modeled as helmeted classical busts, reflecting the neoclassical taste associated with Storr’s finest domestic wares. Both retain their original gilt-washed interiors, a feature reserved for higher-grade production.
The combined weight is approximately 1036 grams (33.3 troy ounces), confirming a substantial gauge consistent with upper-tier manufacture rather than light retail silver.
Engraving and Historical Interest
Each piece is engraved with:
A heraldic crest depicting a squirrel sejant, finely executed in a manner consistent with early 19th-century armorial engraving.
A landscape engraving of a fortified structure with flags, accompanied by a banner reading “CHOUNIA” (or similar spelling).
The engraving of the fort is consistent in form and period with representations of Chunar Fort, a major British East India Company stronghold on the Ganges during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Variations in spelling of Indian place names were common in period engraving, and the form “Chounia” is plausibly a phonetic rendering of Chunar.
Taken together, the crest and fort engraving strongly suggest that the service was owned by, or associated with, a British officer connected to East India Company service in India, likely within the Bengal Presidency during the early decades of the 19th century.
The squirrel crest corresponds to several English families, and research indicates a particularly close alignment with the Loveday family, including Lieutenant-General Lambert Loveday (1760–1840) of the Bengal Army, whose recorded crest features a squirrel sejant. While a definitive attribution to a specific individual has not yet been established, this represents a credible and historically grounded association.
Condition
The pair appears in very good antique condition, with:
Clear and legible hallmarks
Well-preserved engraving
Light surface wear consistent with age and use
Retention of interior gilding
No significant damage or repair noted from inspection of provided images.
Significance
This pair represents:
Work from the Paul Storr tradition, among the most desirable names in English silver
A substantial and matched Regency-period service
Colonial-era historical interest, with engraving tied to British India
Potential for further research linking the crest and engraving to a specific East India Company officer
Weight
Total: 1036 grams
Provenance
Private collection, United States.
Note
The attribution of the engraved fort to Chunar Fort and the association of the crest with the Loveday family are based on current research and comparative analysis. These identifications are presented as informed and plausible, though not definitively proven, and are offered to guide further scholarly investigation.
