An Irish George IV Silver Tray. James Fray, Dublin, Ireland 1826-1827. Marks : (harp) (Britannia) (duty mark) IF, F, WEST 2 1/4 x 18 7/8" diameter. It is 102.35 troy ounces. The round chased repousse tray with size floral and foliate cartouche crowned with a lions mas, each representing a stage in the life of a racehorse with finely chased ground and figures, cast applied rim or shells, waves and flowers, raised on four cast feet terminating in lion's paws.
Originally retailed by West, Dublin, Ireland. Shaped circular the surface richly chased and embossed with vignettes of horses, trainers, riders and stable boys bordered by vases of flowers, lion masks and leafy scrolls, the rim applied with cast scrolls and shell-work, on four leaf and lion paw feet, also with the mark of Jacob West, Alderman. 1826.

This is a very fine piece with the wonderfully exuberant decoration that is so often found with this maker. The vignettes perhaps describe the stages in the life of a racehorse. This would have been a significant commission either for award as a racing trophy or for someone successfully involved in horse racing and the centre would surely have had an inscription or coat of arms relating to one of those.

Very good

18.875 x 15 in