A large Victorian silver-gilt and hardstone dish by R & S Garrard

This exceptional piece is a large Victorian silver-gilt sideboard dish made in 1862 by the esteemed London silversmiths, R. & S. Garrard & Co. In the central area it features the Powerscourt coat of arms with a pair of winged horses and the motto 'Fidelite est de dieu', or, 'faithfulness comes from God.' Around, inlaid amidst intricate and elegant floral decoration, are a beautiful selection of agate and hardstone jewels. Four large octagonal pieces occupy the main areas on either side, and in the corners an oval is surrounded by four smaller pieces. None of them are of precisely the same pattern or colour, but the resulting arrangement comes together with an undeniable harmony to really elevate the gilt-silver and bring it to life.

The reverse is stamped 'R & S Garrard Panton St London' and hallmarked for the year 1862. The firm in question, now known as Garrard and Co. was originally set up by George Wickes in 1735, with Robert Garrard senior taking sole control in 1802. The dish here was made by Robert Garrard (junior) and Sebastian Gerrard, in 1862, 19 years after the firm succeeded Rundell, Bridge & Co as Crown Jewellers.