Royal silver tazza

Circa:1821
Origin:England
Maker:Robert Hennell
Condition:Excellent
Dimensions:21.8cm diameter by 17.1cm high
Weight:1.027 kg

London 1821 George IV Royal silver tazza made by Robert Hennell with Royal crest, engraved with "Liston" on the base.

This George IV silver tazza made in the first year of his reign bears the English royal coat of arms. The central escutcheon bears the arms of (top left) BRUNSWICK, (top right) LUNEBURG, and (bottom) HANOVER with the crown of Charlemagne borne on a central shield for the Arch Treasurership of the Holy Roman Empire.

The motto of the British Monarch “DIEU ET MON DROIT” (God and my right shall me defend) and the motto of the order of the Garter “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” (Shame upon him who thinks evil of it) also appear on the crest.

The royal crest was engraved on silver used in the royal english households and this piece has “Liston” engraved on the base which probably indicated which departmental inventory included it for stock taking and audit purposes.

There is also the historic and ancient Manor of Liston in Essex which was created by Royal Charter circa 1185. It changed the basis by which the De Lyston family held the Ancient Manor from military service to Grand Serjeanty. It required that a De Lyston male aged 21 or older “Make and place five wafers before the King as he sits at dinner on his Coronation Day”.

L G Legg in “English Coronation Records” published in 1901 observes “The wine was served while the King and Queen were eating a dish of wafers which had just been presented by the Lord of the Manor of Liston in Essex”.

It is therefore very likely that this tazza was used for the same purpose for the coronation of George IV.