A pair of George III embossed silver tea caddies, in a fitted and mounted red tortoiseshell case.

This pair of George III embossed silver tea caddies, in a fitted and mounted red tortoiseshell case, the caddies on cloven feet with embossed festoons, four pilaster supports, two masks, paterae and stiff leaf decoration, with pull-off covers and bud finials probably by either Samuel Wood or Samuel White, London 1773, together with two George III jockey cap caddy spoons. The caddies, 19 oz weighable silver.
The caddies and the jockey caps are engraved with the crests of the Fauconberg/Conyers inventory mark.
The case is serpentined on all four sides, with a pagoda top with silver star mounts supporting a shaped handle with what appears to be Prince of Wales feathers, the case is on silver ball and claw feet.
We believe this caddy was presented to Amelia D'Arcy, 9th Baroness Conyers and Francis Godolphin Osbourne on their wedding in 1773. It has stayed in the family until 2005.

Amelia D'Arcy (1754 - 1784), 9th Baroness Conyers. In 1773 she married Francis Godolphin Osbourne the then Marquese of Carmarthen and heir to the Dukedom of Leeds. He was 22 years old, she was only 19 years old. Upon her father's death five years later, Amelia inherited the Conyers Barony as well as Hornby Castle in Yorkshire. She had three children with Francis, George 1775, May 1776 and Francis 1777.
However, just 7 months after her father's death, she eloped with Capt. John Bryon after their scandalous affair was discovered by the Marquess. Her subsequent trial for adultery ended with a divorce granted in 1779. She died at the age of only 29 and Conyers Barony passed to her eldest son George William Frederick Osborne.

An interesting footnote, Capt Byron subsequently remarried. Catherine Gordon in 1785. Their first son George was to become Lord Byron, the famous Poet.

Francis Godolphin Osbourne (1751 - 1799), 5th Duke of Leeds K.G. The marriage of the then Marquess of Carmarthen to Amelia D'Arcy bought together the two families of D'Arcy and Osbourne. This short lived marriage ended before he became Duke of Leeds but bought together many of the items that now comprise the Fauconberg and Conyers heirlooms. He became Foreign Secretary in his later life and was also a lover of cricket, arranging what must have been one of the earliest tours when English cricketers played in France in around 1787.

George William Frederick Osborne (1775 - 1838), 6th Duke of Leeds, 10th Lord Conyers. He was known as the Earl of Danby until 1789 and then Marquess of Carmarthen until 1799. His other titles included Governor of the Scilly Isles, Privy Councillor, 1827, Master of the Horse, 1827 - 30 and Knight of the Order of the Garter. He was a prominent racehorse owner and his horse Octavian won the St. Ledger in 1810. His son, Conyers George was accidentally killed whilst wrestling at his college in 1831!

 

Stock Number: 0106026d/0206
£19,500

Height: 9 in / 22.86 cm
Width: 8.75 in / 22.23 cm
Depth: 5.75 in / 14.61 cm