George III-era washbasin. PHILIP RUNDELL, London, 1801.

PHILIP RUNDELL (1746–1827).
George III-era dish, London, 1801.
Sterling silver.
Hallmarked with London marks and the silversmith’s mark.
Engraved with a heraldic emblem and the motto “Pro Patria.”
Possibly commissioned for heraldic purposes by a British noble family.
Provenance: Molly de Balkany Collection (Marie de Balkany, 1928–2015).
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use and superficial scratches.
Measurements: 7 x 21.5 cm in diameter.

A circular basin with a low body and smooth sides, topped by a simple molded rim and featuring two movable side handles in the shape of drop rings. The understated ornamentation draws attention to the quality of the silver, the precision of the craftsmanship, and the purity of its design—characteristics typical of English silverware from the George III period and the neoclassical taste of the early 19th century.

The front is engraved with a heraldic crest set on a mantling, consisting of a right-arm armed figure wielding a sword, accompanied by a scroll bearing the Latin motto “Pro Patria.” The presence of this crest indicates that the piece was commissioned for a British aristocratic household as part of a personalized table service or ceremonial set.

The piece is signed by Philip Rundell, the leading figure of the renowned London firm Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, who were appointed Jewelers and Silversmiths to the Crown and served as suppliers to King George III, the Prince Regent, and the most influential families of the Georgian period.

The piece comes from the collection of Marie de Balkany (1928–2015), a prominent collector of furniture and decorative arts, with a particular fondness for Empire-period creations. Assembled over several decades at her villa Aigue-Marine in Prangins, on the shores of Lake Geneva, her collection was auctioned by Piguet Hôtel des Ventes in May 2017, generating significant attention on the international market. This provenance lends the washbasin added interest, linking it to a collection renowned for the quality and select nature of its pieces.