Three George III Silver Serving Articles

Various Makers, London, Late 18th / Early 19th Century

comprising a punch ladle by Richard Crossley, London, 1803, with shell-form bowl and engraved with an armorial crest in the form of a rearing lion, marked; a sugar tongs by George Wintle, London, 1800, with bright-cut decoration and engraved with monogram, "M*B/ H", marked; and a sugar tongs by Charles Hougham, London, with bright-cut decoration, no date mark,
hallmarked for Sterling
7 ozt 10 dwt gross
Length of punch ladle 12 1/2 inches.

Property from the Buck Family Collection, Philadelphia

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance:

(punch ladle) Hobart House, Haddam, Connecticut, 1972.

William "Bill" Clifton Buck (1928-2023) was a successful businessman, avid sportsman, and leader within the Philadelphia community. Bill attended Lafayette College, where he majored in Economics, and later joined the family business, Smith Kline and French (later GlaxoSmithKline). Alongside his brothers, he founded and expanded The Drug House and later established TDH, a venture capital firm that invested in major companies such as ESPN and Staples. Bill married Laura Thomas (1931-2024) in 1954, and they enjoyed a vibrant 68-year marriage. Together, they were active philanthropists, supporting numerous organizations and causes in Nantucket, Vero Beach, and Philadelphia, including the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition, Bill’s lifelong passion for baseball led him to become a partner in the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981, and he cherished the team's successes, including the 2008 World Series win.

“Bucktucket,” their beloved Nantucket residence, offered an impressive backdrop for the couple’s collection of Nantucket art. The furnishings of Bucktucket, a traditional cedar-shake house, and of the couple’s Villanova residence seamlessly blended their varied interests into an inviting and cohesive aesthetic. Bill and Laura loved discovering just the right things to fill their homes, meeting artists and dealers along the way. Their collection is marked by several spectacular pieces, including fine period furniture, maritime painting, scrimshaw, sailor’s valentines, wool-work pictures, ceramics, and folk art.