A Queen Anne Cup & Cover
A Queen Anne cup & cover, London 1713, makers mark of Gabriel Sleath.
The urn shaped body on a domed circular foot with applied mid-band, the body with two scroll handles, one side of body engraved with coat-of-arms within a foliate scroll cartouche below, the slightly domed cover with baluster finial, the cover engraved with a crest, marked on cover and body, also engraved with scratch weight 52=18 under base and cover.
Height 10 5/8 in. (26.5 cm.)
Weight 52 oz. (1,622 gr.)
Artist Biography:
Born 11 January 1674 in the Parish of Friern Barnet, son of Gabriel Sleath Citizen and Tallow Chandler of London, apprenticed to Thomas Cooper 27 November 1691. Free 22 October 1701. Married before 1704 and before entering a mark, apparently working for Isaac Dighton (q.v.), since the register of St. Vedast, Foster Lane, has the following entry, 'Thomas the son of Gabriell Isaac Dightons house in gutter Lane in this parish and Anne his wife was borne and Baptised the 27th day of July 1704 in Edward Hathaway House in gutter Lane'. The child was buried on 18 August 1704. Sleath entered his first mark as largeworker, 14 March 1707. Address: Gutter Lane. Livery, October 1712. Signatory as 'working goldsmith' to the petition complaining of the competition of necissitous strangers', December 1711, and to that against assaying work of foreigners not having served seven years apprenticeship, February 1716. Second (sterling) mark, 17 June 1720. Third mark, 18 June 1739. Address: Gutter Lane. Fourth mark, in partnership with Francis Crump (who had been apprenticed to him), 22 November 1753, same address. By 1729 Sleath had acquired property at or was living at Friern Barnet as Anne Sleath was buried there, 14 April 1729. Sleath was next married to Jane Crane, both of St. Vedast, at St.Helen's Bishopsgate, 17 August 1729. He was buried at Friern Barnet, 21 March 1756. His will, dated 9 March preceding, names his wife Joan and directs the sale of 'all my Stock in Trade and also the Lease of my House in Gutter Lane.' He leaves £5 to his sister Sarah Wood, otherwise everything to his wife. Witnesses to his will include Francis Crump. A son Gabriel born 1707 may be perhaps identified with one of the name buried at St.Saviour's, Southwark 1739 as butcher. Heal records Sleath as plateworker, gutter Lane (1669?) and 1704; also the partnership with Crump, 1753-5.