English Sterling Silver Tea Tray Paul Storr 1831 147oz Start Price USD 11,500.00 Current Price USD 11,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 12,500.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, July 18, 2008 End Time Monday, July 21, 2008 Location New England See more about 'English Sterling Silver Tea Tray Paul Storr 1831 147oz' Description IMPORTANT ENGLISH WILLIAM IV STERLING SILVER TEA TRAY; OVAL FORM; ELEGANT BEADED BORDER; LEAF JOIN HANDLES; ELABORATE CROWNED LION & BIRD OF PREY ARMORIAL; PAUL STORR, LONDON, 1831; EXCELLENT CONDITION; 147 OUNCES We are quite pleased to offer this important, Paul Storr William IV English sterling silver tea tray. An exceptionally large, museum quality example of Master Storr's later work. Date marked 1831. Storr apprenticed under the famed Andrew Fogelberg in 1785. He was first listed with William Frisbee, 1792. Second mark alone 1793. He retired in 1838. Grimwade writes that Storr's "...reputation rests on his mastery of the grandiose neo-classical style devloped in the Regency period". Many of Storr's works are in important museums and private collections worldwide. Including the Royal collection. Grimwade adds "....Storr rose to the demands of more fine display plate (sterling) than any other English goldsmith, including Lamerie" (page 672). There can be no higher praise than this for Master Storr. This is the only Storr tea tray we have ever owned. In thirty years of collecting. Now offered on Ebay. Masterfully hand crafted in classic oval form. Elegant, exceptionally large guage beaded border. The larger beads called for given the monumental proporations of the tray. Gently curved side wall. Large, beautifully detailed period armorial. Crowned lion with sceptre and Imperial crowned bird of prey, above shield. Larger crowned lion and ermine draped crowned bird either side. Elaborate scrolling florals, banner "Habent Sia Sidera Reges". Boldy fashioned bead and reeded leaf join handles. At slight upward angle. For ease of handling the tray when supporting a large tea service. This fine Paul Storr oval tea tray is 31 1/2 inches handle to handle 19 1/2 inches across. Extremely thick, heavy guage sterling silver construction 147 ounces. There is absolutely no "give" whatever to the centre of tray. Even when held completely on end. Easily supports the largest six or seven piece period tea and coffee service. In excellent condition. Rich, lustreous sterling patina throughout. The elegant beaded decoration and leaf join handles remain sharp and detailed. The tea tray stands perfectly flat on table. The period armorial rubbed, as shown. Faint surface lines and few scuffs from very careful use, barely discernible. Well struck hallmarks to underside, as shown. An exceptionally large, museum worthy William IV English sterling silver oval, bead and leaf handled tea tray. With elaborate period armorial. Including crowned lion and bird of prey. From Paul Storr. The most important English silversmith of all time. For the advanced private or institutional collection. Please feel free to inquire directly about this, or any item we've listed. Whether the item is alone or part of a set. We very much welcome your interest. We are collectors first. As such, we are quite easy to work with. We happily combine items when shipping, saving you costs. We ship twice weekly, usually US Postal Priority. Fully insured for domestic packages, and air parcel overseas. We charge a bit more than actual cost for custom size boxes, shipping materials and to pay for professional packing. We make great effort to accurately describe each item listed. Returns are accepted, if either condition, country of origin or dating is significantly incorrect. In such cases we refund your shipping costs as well. Like you, we are only human, and make mistakes. Hopefully, not too many. Remember, the items you see are antiques. Hence, have an expected amount of wear from normal use. As such, returning an item because we failed to mention the tiniest bit of wear, or barely discernible flaw is not acceptable. Nor do we accept returns based on buyer's remorse. Nor change of taste, or because a buyer did not realize how "small" four inches might be once in hand. Please note, Massachusetts residents are subject to sales tax. We have over 4130 feedbacks. And, are quite proud of our 99.9% rating. We received favorable notice in the March 12th, 2006 New York Times. Page 8, Business Section, in a well written article on silver collecting. Copy furnished upon request. From our personal collection, an elegant mid 19th century coin silver basket, from John and Edward Moore, of Tiffany fame. Illustrated in the cover article of May/June 2008 Silver Magazine, page 27. Enjoy....and good fortune in your bidding. Place a Bid!