Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Mirror, comprising a silver gilt frame, a sheet of (modern) mirror glass and a mahogany back, with hinged and chained splat; inverted shield-shape, rounded top, incurving sides, and base; the frame standing on two scrolling feet at the lower corners, and heavily ornamented in relief with C-scrolls, flowers, foliage and beads; a large shell containing a rose in the centre of the bottom rail; crowned with an assymetric cartouche amid foliage, engraved with the arms of Williams-Wynn impaling Somerset.

This spectacular toilet service was given as a gift by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn’s mother to her new daughter-in-law, Henrietta Somerset, in 1768. Silver toilet services, comprising a mirror, candlesticks and boxes for jewellery and patches, became a symbol of rank and high status from the 1660s. They were displayed on dressing tables with rich lace covers. Thomas Heming was principal goldsmith to the King, and this service is similar to the one he had made two years earlier for the Queen of Denmark.