Description
Heading : Worcester tea cup and saucer decortaed with the crest of Gavin
Date : 1768
Period : George III
Marks : Faux meissen swords
Origin : Worcester. England
Colour : Lilac flowers. gilded rims
Pattern : Decorated at the Giles atelier with lilac sprigs and the crest of Gavin.
Features : A ship flying the blue ensign
Size : Cup 7.7cm in diameter. saucer 13cm in diameter
Condition : Very minor fritting to the footrim and staining but all from manufacture.
Restoration : None
Weight : 190 grams combined
Additional Information : It is no coincidence that the teacup has a faux Meissen mark. A tea cup and saucer of this pattern is illustrated in ‘Coloured Worcester Porcelain of the first Period’ by H R Marshall. pl.44. no.913 and in Rosalind Sword’s recent book on the Marshall Collection this has become a trio as no.967. The atelier also decorated plates with the arms of Gavin impaling Hearsey.
In the space of less than 100 years the Gavin’s rose from relative obscurity in Scotland to being members of one of the wealthiest families in England.
Their riches via rags story began with a shipwreck in Lunan Bay. Scotland (possibly in 1740) when a Dutch trading vessel ran aground. Members of the ships crew including the captain were rescued by and billeted with the villagers. The captain was billeted with David’s grandfather. James Gavin. who was the Beadle (the Gavin family had held a hereditary right to be Sextons and Kirk oficers since 1679).
The ship’s captain fell in love with James Gavin’s daughter. Catherine. They married and moved to Holland.
David’s father Alexander Gavin married Elizabeth Jameson in 1713 & went on to have a large family. The Church at Limanhy has fixtures and fittings that were gifted by Alexander & Elizabeth Gavin in 1733.
Alexander Gavin was the proprietor of a shop in Portloch (where David was born in 1720) from which he operated a modest business dealing in tea & tobacco.
David left Scotland to stay with Catherine Gavin and her husband in Holland. His uncle had by then become a successful Merchant. David joined the business and eventually became his uncle’s business partner. He married his aunt and uncle’s daughter (Christina) in 1751).
David was also very successful in the business and became independently wealthy. He took over the business on his uncle’s death after which he made a large fortune which was increased on the sale of the business.
David & Christine moved to Scotland in 1753. Catherine died in 1767 (there do not appear to have been any children)
David married. secondly. Elizabeth Maitland (daughter of the Earl of Lauderdale) in 1770.
David & Elizabeth’s second daughter. Mary (born 10 July 1795. died 28 June 1862) was married in 1819 to Richard Temple- Nugent- Bryden- Chandos- Greville. Duke of Buckingham & Chandos (When he inherited his title and estates Richard is reported to have had an income of more than £100.000 per annum.
The Duke (he of the spectacular Flight. Barr & Barr “Stowe” service) went spectacularly bankrupt in 1847 with debts of some £1M. When the Duchess sought to divorce her husband an Act of Parliament was required. The spouse were divorced in 1850.
Portrait of David Gavin
The portrait was painted by Francis Cotes ( born 1726. died 1770)
David Gavin’s portrait was sold in auction. The notes in the auction catalogue also identify his first wife’s Surname as HIRSCE and provides the following information about the portrait of David which was painted in 1761 and not 1764 as some other reports state:-
” David Gavin of Langton House. Berwickshire; he married first Christina Maria Hirsce. who died in 1767. and then married Lady Elizabeth Maitland. daughter of the 7th Earl of Lauderdale”.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.