DAVID WHYTE & WILLIAM HOLMES

A Large George III Rococo Coffee Pot

London, 1767

Maker's Mark of David Whyte & William Holmes

Sterling Silver 

Height – 33.5 cm (13.25 inches)

Weight – 1194 grams (38.39 z)

The mark listed as "unregistered" by Grimwade. It would have been recorded in the missing in the 1758-1773 Largeworkers' Register.

This elegant sterling silver coffee pot, made in London in 1767 by David Whyte and William Holmes, is a refined example of George III period silverwork. Exhibiting the opulent Rococo style that persisted into the mid-18th century, the piece is a testament to the skill and artistic sensibility of its makers, both of whom were prominent silversmiths active during a transitional era in British decorative arts.

The coffee pot stands on a spreading circular foot richly ornamented with repoussé and chased floral and scrollwork motifs. This exuberant decoration continues up the baluster-shaped body, where swirling foliage and shell elements dominate the surface in a lively, asymmetrical composition. The scrolling handle, made of wood, provides both functional insulation and visual contrast, its organic curvature echoing the flowing lines of the silverwork. The hinged lid is crowned with a cast silver finial, completing the pot with a graceful vertical flourish.

The spout, long and elegantly curved, is also adorned with fine chasing, integrating seamlessly with the body’s decorative scheme. These elements reflect the continued influence of the Rococo aesthetic, even as the neoclassical taste began to emerge during the latter half of the 18th century.

This coffee pot would have been a luxurious item in its time, used in the refined setting of a Georgian household or salon, where coffee had become a fashionable beverage. Its considerable craftsmanship and lavish decoration reflect both the social importance of tea and coffee service in 18th-century Britain and the technical prowess of its makers.

David Whyte and William Holmes were registered partners in London and produced some of the most finely crafted domestic silver of the period. Their work is notable for its quality and bold stylistic execution, and this coffee pot is a particularly distinguished example of their collaborative output.

In both form and ornament, this piece illustrates the grandeur and elegance of late Rococo design within the context of British silver, embodying the decorative richness and ceremonial function that characterized Georgian silverware.