In Georgian and Victorian times, gifts of large pieces of silverware were often made to noteworthy people. They typically have an engraving which details the donors, the receipient, and the occasion.

One such piece recently surfaced in the world of Irish silver. It is a magnificent Irish silver and glass table centrepiece. The six light candelabra was made in Dublin in 1837, and has a central cut glass bowl. The base has chased and engraved hunting scene, and an engraving from the Louth Hunt.

The engraving reads:

"Presented to Matthew Fortescue of Stephenstown, Esq, on his retirement from the management of the Louth hounds, by his brother hunstmen as a token of their esteem and regard, MDCCCXXXVIII" (1838)

Just to the left of the engraving is the hallmarks, from the Dublin assay office. The two other panels contain hunting scenes, in high relief.

The frotescue family are a family of nobility, of Castle Hill in Devon. The House of Fortescue is said to date from the Battle of Hastings (1066), where Richard le Fort saved the life of William the Conqueror by the shelter of his shield, thereafter to be known as Fort-Escu ("strong shield"). His descendants have taken for their motto, Forte scutum salus ducum - "A strong shield is the safety of leaders."

This motto can be seen above the engraving.

Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue KG PC (13 February 1783 - 14 September 1861), known as Viscount Ebrington, was a British politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1839 to 1841.

He first became an MP, for Barnstaple, just after his 21st birthday, and sat for various constituencies almost continuously until 1839.

The piece stands over 26 inches tall, unusually large for a piece of Irish silver. The six candle holders have drip trays and removeable sconces.

The height of the centrepiece is of interest; typicall,y these need to be quite high so that conversation can be carreid out across the table. If the bowl was lower, then the view across the table would be blocked!!