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The King's Plate: William and Mary

The dish is of silver-gilt, perfectly plain, twenty-five and three-quarter inches in diameter, and weighing two hundred and two ounces. The maker's mark is four of the an that shown on orb and star on a plain shield, the same as St. George's salts, and the date of manufacture is the same, viz. 1660–61. FLAGON AND ALMS DISH OF WILLIAM AND MARY Two fine pieces of church plate made for William and Mary are amongst the royal plate at the Tower. The set probably included two cups or chalices, but no trace of these can be found in any later reigns. The flagon is of silver-gilt, stands seventeen inches high, and has a large handle and hinged cover. The body has plain moulded edges, and is covered with boldly embossed cherubs' faces, scrolled acanthus foliage, and festoons of roses and fruit on a granulated surface. The base splays broadly outwards and is decorated with acanthus leaves. The handle is plain, terminating at the bottom in a plain flat disc. At the top is a thumbpiece for opening the lid, which is pierced with a heart and a triangular opening. The cover is shallow, is embossed with acanthus leaves, and has on top a small plain knob. The cypher of William and Mary surmounted by a royal crown is on the front of the flagon. The maker's mark is S. H. linked together on a circular cartouche. The date of manufacture is 1691-92.

The alms dish which goes with this flagon is of very handsome design. It is of silver-gilt, twenty-seven and three-quarter inches in diameter, and has in the centre in high relief a representation of the Last Supper. Below this is a panel showing the cypher of William and Mary surmounted by a royal crown. The wide rim of the dish is embossed boldly with four winged cherubs' heads, in the intervals between which are displayed scrolls of acanthus foliage garlands and fruit on a granulated ground. The maker's name was Francis Garthorne, his mark being F. G. with a rosette below on a shield. The dish was made in 1691-92. Both the flagon and the alms dish are used three times a year in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower: on Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Whit-Sunday.

Though they do not form a portion of the royal plate it may here be mentioned that the sacramental plate in daily use in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, though not so ornate, is considerably older than these, dating back to Charles I. There are a chalice and small patin dated 1629; another chalice and small patin dated 1637 and 1638 respectively, and one large patin dated 1682. All are inscribed with the monogram C. R. surmounted by a royal crown, the first four pieces pertaining to the reign of Charles I. and the last to that of Charles II. It is a matter for satisfaction that this ancient plate escaped the organised destruction of the Cromwellian era.

THE WINE FOUNTAIN OF CHARLES II. a This is a very fine piece of plate and somewhat appropriate to the Merry Monarch. If in actual use a barrel of wine would be placed high up in an obscure corner of the room. From this a pipe would run to a hole at the bottom of the fountain, and through this the wine would in accordance with the law of levels rise to the topmost figure and thence flow down into the open receptacles below. As there is no escape from these except on to the table, it would be incumbent on the company to keep on dipping their beakers into the generous flood to avoid not only an overflow, but also so important a matter as the waste of good wine.

There is, however, no record of this fountain having been thus used; more probably it has served as a handsome centre-piece at royal banquets, loaded with fruit and sweets. Whatever its intended use the fountain is undoubtedly the finest piece of royal plate in the Tower. It was made by Sir Robert Vyner, at a cost of £400* to order of the Borough of Plymouth, and was presented by the loyal citizens thereof to their king on his restoration. It is of silver, richly gilt, this gold-covering having on several occasions been renewed. At the *About £2,000 of our money.