Each circular, with ribbon-tied reeded border, engraved with a coat-of-arms with earl's coronet above, each marked on reverse and engraved with number and scratch weight 'No 85 19"13'; 'No 86 18"16'; 'No 87 20"7' 'No 88 19"14'; 'No 89 18"0'; 'No 90 19"12'; 'No 91 19"10'; 'No 92 19"12'; 'No 93 19"12'; 'No 94 19"4'; 'No 95 19"11'; 'No 96 19"3'
10 in. (25.3cm.) diameter
222 oz. 1 dwt. (6,908 gr.)

John Pratt, 2nd Earl Camden (1759-1840), then by descent to,
John Charles Henry Pratt, 5th Marquess Camden (1899-1983),
The Most Hon. the Marquess of Camden, D.L., J.P.; Sotheby's, London, 23 January 1964, lot 81.
A Will Trust; Christie's, London, 9 July 1997, lot 104, when acquired by the present owner.

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Lot Essay

The present set of twelve dinner-plates were part of the Camden service, an exceptionally large and lavish dinner-service commissioned by John Jeffreys Pratt, 2nd Earl Camden (1759-1840) and supplied by Paul Storr, and others, in 1794, the year of his succession to the earldom. Pratt succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1794 and followed his father, who had been Lord Chancellor and a close friend of William Pitt, into politics and served variously as Lord of the Admiralty and a Lord of the Treasury, being appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1795.

Camden's term of office in Ireland was one of commotion and alarm, culminating in the rebellion of 1798. Immediately after the suppression of the rising he resigned, and in 1804 became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies under Pitt, and in 1805 Lord President of the Council. He was again Lord President from 1807 to 1812, after which date he remained for some time in the cabinet without office.

In 1812 he was created Earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden. He died on 8 October 1840, and was succeeded by his only son, George Charles (1799-1866).