George III Sterling Silver Beaker, London 1797, Chawner & Emes, Probable Wellesley Family Crest

A superb George III sterling silver beaker made in London in 1797 by the short-lived and highly collectable partnership of Henry Chawner and John Emes. Elegant in form and beautifully proportioned, this piece represents the restrained refinement of late 18th-century English silver, with a gilt-washed interior and an engraved family crest of notable armorial interest.

The engraved crest appears consistent with the Wellesley family crest, later famously associated with Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. No direct ownership attribution is made, but the crest gives the beaker strong historical, heraldic and collector appeal.

Details

Maker: Henry Chawner & John Emes
Assay Office: London
Date: 1797
Period: George III
Material: Sterling silver
Height: 7 cm
Weight: 114.1 grams
Features: Gilt-washed interior, engraved family crest, plain tapering Georgian form
Crest: Appears consistent with the Wellesley family crest

Condition

In very good antique condition, with light surface wear consistent with age and careful use. The engraved crest remains an important decorative and historical feature. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Historical and Collector Context

Henry Chawner and John Emes formed one of the briefest yet most desirable London silversmithing partnerships of the Georgian period. Their joint maker’s mark was used only for a short time, making surviving pieces by Chawner & Emes particularly sought after by collectors of fine English silver.

John Emes was especially admired as an engraver, and his refined neoclassical taste is reflected in the clean, elegant design associated with the partnership’s work. After Emes’s death, the business continued through Rebecca Emes and Edward Barnard, eventually forming part of the important Barnard silver dynasty.

The crest engraved on this beaker appears consistent with the Wellesley family crest, a family of major importance in British history. The Wellesley name is most famously associated with Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the British commander who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and later served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

This beaker dates to 1797, before Arthur Wellesley received the dukedom of Wellington, so no direct personal ownership is claimed. However, the possible Wellesley family armorial connection gives the piece considerable historical, heraldic and collector interest, elevating it beyond a standard Georgian silver beaker.

A refined and historically intriguing piece of late 18th-century English silver, ideal for collectors of Georgian silver, armorial silver, Chawner & Emes works, or objects connected with important British family history.

All items are vintage or antique and may show light signs of age. Please review all photos carefully as they form part of the description. Feel free to message with any questions prior to purchase.