A George III silver Old English Thread edge table spoon William Eley & William Fearn, London 1798

A George III silver Old English Thread edge table spoon William Eley & William Fearn, London 1798 Reverse of the stem engraved with armorial for William Thomas Beckford, length 21.5cm, weight 3.4oz. Footnotes: Provenance: With Mary Cooke Antiques Limited The Patrick and Mavis Walker Silver Collection These are a striking variant of the arms used by the BECKFORD family of Fonthill, Wiltshire and Jamaica. These are the arms of William Thomas BECKFORD (1760-1844) who was the only legitimate son of Sir William BECKFORD (1709-1770) by Maria MARSH nee HAMILTON (1725-1798) widow of Francis MARSH and daughter of the Hon. George HAMILTON (died 1775). His father William was twice Lord Mayor of London and eventually inherited his considerable wealth from his father Col. Peter BECKFORD (1643-1710) who had been Governor of Jamaica. In 1783 he married Lady Margaret GORDON (1763-1786) daughter of Charles GORDON (1726-1794) 4th Earl of Aboyne. William Thomas BECKFORD was known as a writer, politician, consummately knowledgeable art collector indulging his collecting from his considerable inherited wealth. Reputed, at one stage, to be the richest commoner in England. He is remembered as the author of the Gothic novel Vathek, the builder of the lost Fonthill Abbey and Lansdown Tower in Bath and especially for his art collection. It is almost certain that this spoon was included in the Harley Street Sale of 1817. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing