Reform Act Georgian Sterling Silver Decanter Label Pair

Reform Act 1832  Georgian Sterling Silver Political Decanter Labels  

Made at the Bunhill Row Workshop, in London 1832.

A Pair of Superb Georgian Sterling Silver Political Decanter Labels.  Made in London, in 1832, by William Bateman II.   Hand Engraved GIN & BRANDY.  Two heavy cast labels with RARE decoration of great political interest.  A central rose, encompassed by clover with thistles emerging under the central cartouche. Two lions heads in an abundance of fruiting vines surmounted by a Rococo shell over. 

The movement for political reform started by Thomas Paine in 1790 had been on hold through the French wars. Influenced by the French revolution and moving power from the rich in London to the more common man, and to Ireland and Scotland. The Act stumbled through due process from 1830 and was helped by large and violent riots in Bristol, Derby, Nottingham and Bath. Many hundreds of people were injured in the riots (400 in Bristol) and the fear of revolution cannot be underestimated. The reforms wanted were: Universal manhood sufferage. Secret ballots and Annual elections. Eventually the Act enfranchised many middle class and skilled working men. In particular Scotland was awarded 8 more seats and Ireland 5 more in the house of Commons. Thus the movement of power to the people was continued and the Act was seen to strengthen The Union.  A subsequent meeting in Birmingham in 1832 of 15,000 people gave a vote of thanks to the King and to Parliament.

The rose symbolising England, the thistles symbolising Scotland and the clover symbolising Ireland with the lions masks symbolising the King reigning over. Make this good pair of labels RARE and of great interest.  Presumably struck to celebrate the Act, this act gave the right to vote to many people including the skilled silversmith artesans, and may well have been produced as  very personal celebration by William Bateman of his right to vote for the first time.     

 Condition:

The Marks.  Well Struck.

The Labels   Very Good.

Hallmarks:

• WB
• William IV head duty mark
• Lion passant
• Date letter r
• Leopards head

Length:   One and a half inches   4.3cm           

Weight:   0.750ounces  each               21.2grams each

Postage: 

FREE delivery to UK mainland insured

International postage is £6.00 insured

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