A George III Square Etui Possibly by the James Giles Workshop

First up, we have this George III gold mounted blue glass square etui. It was possibly made by the James Giles Workshop between 1760-1770. The grandson of Huguenot refugees from Nîmes, James Giles (1718-1780) was one of the most renowned porcelain decorators of the mid 18th century.

Having been apprenticed to a jeweller in the 1730s, Giles gained skills in enamelling, gilding, and fine metalwork, and opened his first workshop in Kentish Town, followed by a studio in Berwick Street, Soho, in 1763. He became renowned for producing an enormous range of exquisitely decorated luxury porcelain and glass, using high quality porcelain blanks, often sourced from the Worcester factory, in the style of Derby, Bow and Chelsea porcelain as well as more European Rococo styles from Meissen and Sèvres. Other objects created in Giles' studios were gilt and enamel decorated glass decanters, drinking-glasses, perfume bottles and rosewater sprinklers. His glassware is much more original and distinctive in its design than much of his porcelain decoration, with intricate gilding and elaborate grounds that catered to the fashionable tastes for splendid objets de luxe after 1770, thereby cementing his reputation as a versatile artisan.

This piece comes to auction from the Heber-Percy family. The aide memoire has a faint pencil inscription which says 'when this is read remember poor EP'. 'EP' may refer to Elizabeth Anne Frances Percy (1744-1761), the daughter of Elizabeth, Baroness Percy and Hugh, 1st Duke of Northumberland, who died when she was only 17. The white enamel on the box might also suggest a memorial to a child or unmarried young adult. This was a common practice in the Georgian period, with the white enamel symbolising purity, innocence and a life unfulfilled. 

This box is later recorded in a family inventory of 1927 as belonging to Alice Heber-Percy (nee Lockwood), the daughter of Mary Isabella Percy and the Rev. F. V. Lockwood of Canterbury. She married Algernon Heber-Percy (1845-1911) in 1867.

A Scottish Silver Reproduction Traprain Law Treasure Amphitrite Bowl

Traprain Law, a volcanic hill east of Edinburgh, was the main settlement of the Votadini tribe in Roman Britain. By the fifth century AD, the Votadini were allies of Rome, helping to defend the Empire’s northern frontier. In 1919, excavations at their hill fort uncovered the largest hoard of Roman silver ever found outside the Roman Empire, comprising over 250 objects and weighing 23 kilograms.

The site showed evidence of silversmithing, and much of the hoard had been cut into hack silver for melting down, either as currency or for reuse. The hoard included Roman tableware and bathing items, as well as later objects such as a large chain and an early Christian silver-gilt vessel made from recycled Roman silver. The silver was likely diplomatic gifts or payments from Rome and was buried in the late fifth century AD. 

After its discovery, the hoard was moved to the National Museum of Scotland and restored by the Edinburgh silversmiths Brook & Son, who were also licensed to make replicas. Brook & Sons (1891-1951) was established at 87 George Street Edinburgh, and were Royal Warrant holders as Goldsmiths to Queen Victoria and George V, also having responsibility for looking after The Honours of Scotland (The Scottish Crown Jewels).

We are pleased to be offering this Scottish silver reproduction Traprain Law Treasure amphitrite bowl. This is a copy made by Brook & Son of one of the more complete bathing bowls found amongst the hoard.

A German Silver Gilt Cup and Cover

Here, we wanted to share this German silver gilt cup and cover. It is engraved 'William Drogo Sturges Montagu from his Godfather the German Emperor June 26th 1908'. William Drogo Sturges Montagu (1908 -1940) was the second son of George Charles Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich (1874-1962) and his wife Alberta Sturges, an American heiress. William was Flying Officer and instructor with the RAF during World War II, and was killed in a flying accident in January 1940 whilst on active service in Scotland.

The Montagu family's links to Kaiser Wilhelm II came through their significant social standing and international connections, rather than any close lineage, which would explain why Kaiser Wilhelm II became godfather to William Drogo Sturges Montagu. William Montagu's grandfather, Rear Admiral Victor Montagu (1841-1915) had an affable relationship with the Kaiser who described him as the 'Most Obedient and Devoted [of] Servants'.

The Kaiser and Victor Montagu shared a deep love of sailing and both competed at Cowes Week and in the Keil Regatta. Victor was known to hold pro-German views, and the Kaiser built personal relationships with him and other British aristocrats holding similar opinions, as evidenced by their recorded correspondence between 1908 and 1912. The Kaiser was also very fond of Victor's unmarried daughter Lady Mary Sophie Montagu (1870-1946), who he had met on a visit to Cowes. Lady Mary Montagu and the Kaiser undertook a correspondence that lasted for several years until the outbreak of the Great War in 1914.

A George II Silver Shaped Circular Tea Tray

Once the property of the family of the Earls of Northesk, we have this George II silver shaped circular tea tray, dating to 1751. It features the extensive armorial of William Carnegie GCB (1756-1831) 7th Earl of Northesk in the Peerage of Scotland, who married Mary Ricketts in Paris in 1788. It also has a dedication, 'Jean Jervis, to Mary Countess of Northesk, 1817, Dono Dedit'.

William had a distinguished naval career and was third in command at the battle of Trafalgar on HMS Britannia. He was made a Knight of the Bath in 1806 for the part he played at Trafalgar. Alongside his later career in finance and politics, William's commitments to the navy continued when he was awarded the position of Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom in 1821, and Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth from 1827-1830.

William's wife Mary Ricketts was the daughter and heir of William Henry and Mary Ricketts of Longwood, Hampshire. Mary Rickett's maternal uncles were John Jervis  (1735-1823), 1st Earl St Vincent and Admiral of the Fleet, and William Jervis (1728-1771) whose wife was Jane Jervis (nee Hattrell 1733-1817). William and Jane Jervis had no children, and in her will of 1817 Jane bequeathed certain items to Mary Ricketts, Countess of Northesk, including ' ... to say to the Countess of Northesk my large silver tea salver or tea tray'.

The dedication 'Jean Jervis' in the engraving might be a scribe or engraver's error as Jane, Jene and Jean were common variants of the same name in the early 19th century.

A William and Mary Silver Beaker

Finally, we have this William and Mary silver beaker. It features the maker's mark of F.S over S beneath a crown. This mark has been found on twenty or so exceptional silver pieces ascribed to an unidentified Huguenot silversmith working in London at the end of the 17th century.

It has been suggested that this craftsman was associated with a group of other leading Hugenot gold and silversmiths, which included Pierre Harache and David Willaume I, who had all fled the Protestant persecution in France and established businesses in London in the later 17th century. These gold and silversmiths were renowned for the exceptional quality of the craftsmanship in their silversmithing and engraving. It has also been suggested that this silversmith's works are also associated with several Huguenot engravers involved in the same group of craftsmen, including Blaise Gentot, Etienne Joseph Daudet and the Gribelin family who worked for David Willaume I.

Only two of the twenty known pieces seen with this maker's mark have full hallmarks, although in those cases the maker's mark has been overstruck across another maker's mark. The mark of F.S over S has some resemblance to French provincial town marks, and coupled with the French form and decoration on some of these works, has led to the current conclusion that this silversmith was a Huguenot immigrant.

The mark FS over S mark is seen on other pieces with beautifully engraved scrolling foliage and figures or animals as in the lot offered here, including a cup and cover in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; a pair of two-handled cups and covers at Temple Newsam House, Leeds; and a teapot in The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

View page turning catalogue

Auction Details

Tuesday 17 February 2026, 10.30am GMT
Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids.

Browse the auction
Sign up to email alerts

Viewing:
Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU

• Monday 2 February: 10am-4pm
• Tuesday 3 February: 10am-4pm

Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

• Friday 13 February: 10am-4pm
• Saturday 14 February: 10am-3pm
• Sunday 15 February: 10am-3pm
• Monday 16 February: 10am-4pm

Further Information: 
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | jsw@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com