Tray, Serving

Object Name:

Tray, Serving

Object ID:

1995.513.21

Date:

circa 1850

Description:

Tray. Silver. Very large body, with two handles and four feet. Oval in shape with broadly scalloped edge. Center of tray is fully engraved. Center engraving includes a crest; upper part of crest is a horse head over a bar under which is a shield that includes images of the top half of a lion, two boars heads, a flower, and a circle with an arrow in it. Below the shield is a ribbon with three words in Roman letters, "VERA PRO GRATAS". Pineapple designs on the two ends of the oval. Four additional ovals each with an engraved ram's head and two additional engraved areas with scroll and floral designs. Handles rope-turned with acanthus leaves at junctures with tray. Centers of handles have an undetermined animal's head. The four feet are each claws with an undetermined animal head above them. Edge of tray is decorated in a beaded design.

Coat of Arms of Daniel Webster
Shield: Azure on a bend Argent between a plate pierced by an arrow bend sinisterways and a demi-lion Erminoise a rose Gules between two boar's heads couped Sable

Crest: A horse's head couped

Motto: Vero pro gratis (But for grace)

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

H-2.875 W-31.375 D-20.25 inches

Provenance:

The tray came from the family of Daniel Webster. The shield and motto on this tray make up the design that Daniel Webster used on his personal bookplate, with a few minor variations.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Webster, Daniel (1782-1852)

Subjects:

Heraldry