Two historically important pairs of crested Victorian sterling silver and parcel gilt salt cellars from the Lonsdale Silver Presentation, William Mann, London, circa 1841

PROPERTY FROM A DESCENDANT OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM LONSDALE

each of compressed ovoid form, cast, chased and embossed with floral roundels and c-scrolls, centred by a cartouche bearing the Lonsdale family Stag insignia, beneath a gadrooned and leaf cast rim bordering a gilt wash interior and a blue glass liner, raised on shell cast supports; together with four later added Victorian sterling silver 'Fiddle and Thread' pattern salt spoons, Robert Wallis, London, circa 1846, double struck, with a drop heel, engraved to the handle with the Lonsdale family Stag insignia
approximately 762 gms total weight of silver, excluding glass liners, salt cellars 9.5 cm diameter, 5 cm high

Provenance

Captain William Lonsdale (1799-1864), acquired 1842
Edgar Lonsdale Esq. (1839-1885), by descent from the above
Granville Lonsdale Esq. (1884-1922), by descent from the above
Mrs Muriel Ruth Lonsdale-Weir (1916-1987), by descent from the above
Mrs Liona Cecilia Newman, by descent from the above

Exhibited

The Lonsdale Silver Presentation: An Exhibition, The National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Como House, Melbourne, 16-31 July 1988
Victoria On Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, 15-18 February 1996
Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, 18 September 1996-circa December 1998

Literature

Testimonial to Captain Lonsdale', Port Phillip Herald, Melbourne, 28 January 1840, p. 3
'Captain Lonsdale', Port Phillip Herald, Melbourne, 31 January 1840, p. 2
'List of Subscribers to the Testimonial to be Presented to Captain Lonsdale', Port Phillip Herald, Melbourne, 31 January 1840, p. 2
'Captain Lonsdale', Port Phillip Herald, Melbourne, 15 March 1842, p. 4
The Lonsdale Silver Presentation: An Exhibition, The National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Melbourne, 1988, p. 8
John M. Wilkins, The Life and Times of Captain William Lonsdale, "Nieuwe Dieper", 1799-1864: The Biographical Diary of Port Phillip's "Accredited Spy", J. Wilkins, Melbourne, 1991, p. 129