Superb 1806 Pair English Georgian Sterling Silver Covered Entree Serving Dishes

Presented is a fabulous pair of English Georgian sterling silver covered entree or vegetable dishes. These dishes date to 1806. The dishes are done in a classic form, with decorative gadrooning around the rim and around the top. The handles are done in the shape of looped leafy vines. One side of each dish has an intricate crest, bifurcated with three lozenges and a chevron on one side and three fish on the other. The other side of each dish has a simpler crest of an armored arm holding an anchor. The dishes are very well made from thick, heavy gauge silver, with a nice feeling of weight and sturdiness. The handles can be unscrewed from the lids, and the lids inverted for use as additional open serving dishes, so these can be used as a set of two covered dishes or four open dishes, however you like. We have been informed that these dishes were likely part of the dowry of society beauty Frances Roche, who married Sir Philip Miles, 2nd Baronet. Frances Roche's father was David Roche, 1st baronet. The coat of arms is for the married couple and for Frances Roche's father. The dishes are in great condition. The engraved crests are nice and crisp. There are no splits, no dents, no monogram removals, and no repairs. Each dish and each lid is hallmarked on the side with the lion passant for sterling silver, the leopard's head crowned for the city of London, the date letter L for 1806, King George III's head duty mark, and the maker's mark, we believe, WE, likely for William Eley I. Some of the marks are quite worn. One of the handles is also marked with the lion passant for sterling silver and another hallmark which is too worn to read. The other handle was probably also hallmarked but the marks are no longer visible. Each piece is marked so they can all be matched up. One dish, its lid and its handle have two dots, and the other has three dots. All the pieces are clearly original. Each dish measures about 12 1/2 by 9 1/4 by 4 3/4 inches, LxWxH. The total weight for the pair is 3966 grams or 139.9 regular ounces. Very heavy! -jm