A Carter, Smith & Sharp George III Silver Neoclassical Center Bowl, London, England, circa 1778
Marks: (lion passant), (leopard's head), c, RC-DS-RS
9 h x 17-3/8 w x 9-1/2 d inches (22.9 x 44.1 x 24.1 cm)
82.67 troy ounces

The ovoid bowl in classical form having gadrooned rim, bowl flanked by scrolled reeded handles with anthemion leaf flourishes, obverse cartouche depicting an armorial crest with the motto NIL NISI CRUCE to the ribboned standard below, reverse cartouche depicting an ecclesiastical crest surmounted by mitre, bowl raised on double-stepped base, gadrooned embellishment to upper step.

The arms on the reverse cartouche are those of the Most Reverend Lord John George de la Poer Beresford (1773-1862), an Anglican archbishop and Primate of Ireland. He was the third son of George de la Poer Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford. The sinister side of the shield depicts the arms of the Beresford family, and to the dexter are the arms of the Anglican Diocese of Raphoe (Ireland), all below the Bishop's mitre. John Beresford served as the Bishop of Raphoe from 1807 to 1819 (likely the time period when the bowl was engraved with the present crests), and was appointed the Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland in 1822. The obverse cartouche depicts the Beresford family arms, presented between two sword-wielding angels.

Note: The bowl was manufactured by Richard Carter, Daniel Smith, and Robert Sharp likely as a covered tureen and was produced during the short-lived partnership between the three from 1778-1780.

Bowl was likely originally manufactured with lid, light nicking throughout, very minor pin dents to interior bowl that do not present to exterior, presenting well with surface scratches commensurate with age, polishing, and use.