waxantiques

A Georgian Silver Flask

Imagine our delight when we received the following piece of research on the subject of a recently acquired item of stock, namely a Georgian silver flask.

Its original owner was Sir John Bayley (b.1763), Knight and Baronet of the Exchequer. Bayley’s luxurious life style included a town house in Pall Mall, London, the country residence of Updown House in the Parish of Ham and the sailing boat “Nymph”, a vessel which could accommodate both his family and guests, together with servants, silver and fine china. The flask offered for sale is likely to be the ship’s flask from the Captain’s table.

A painting was sold in Christies South Kensington on 24.11.10 entitled “Sir John Bayley’s cutter yacht Nymph flying the ensign of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Scottish waters” signed and dated ‘J.C. Schetky 1836’. John Christian Schetky (Edinburgh 1778-1874). Photograph attached.

The Royal Yacht Squadron. Bayley was a member of the prestigeous and influential British yachting club, founded as the Yacht Club at Cowes by a group of men interested in salt-water yachting. From 1820 it was known as the Royal Yacht Club and in July 1833 was renamed The Royal Yacht Squadron at the request of William IV. The RYS entered into its historic headquarters, the Castle at Cowes in 1858.

Who would have thought that a simple object such as this flask would have provided so much fascinating information about the origins of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and of Cowes week too.

To see details of the flask please click on the following link:

View this flask on our website

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