A fine set of twelve George III silver dinner plates, each of shaped circular form with gadroon rim enclosing an engraved family crest for the 9th Earl of Haddington and the Royal Cipher for William IV, numbered and with scratched weights to the underside. Hallmarked John Wakelin & William Taylor, London 1777. Diameter measures 9 7/8 inches (25 cm), weight 192.74 ozt (5994 grams). The 9th Earl of Haddington was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1834-1835. As a representative of the Crown, he would have been allowed to use the Royal insignia on silver in addition to his own family crest. The Royal Cipher on these plates has the letters W R for William IV (William Rex), who was on the throne from 1830-1837 and therefore King at the time of the Earl of Haddington's appointment.
The plates appear in good overall condition, displaying some general wear, surface scratches, marks and tarnishing, all in keeping with the age and general usage. Some minor dints and heavier scratches or knife marks, mainly visible to the plain centres and undersides. The hallmarks are clear and legible. Scratched weights and numbers are also clearly legible.