A collection of George III and George IV matched silver fiddle pattern flatware, most by William Eley & William Fearn, London 1804 and later,

each engraved with a monogram 'JK', within a garter and lion rampant, comprising twelve tablespoons, eleven dessert forks, nine dessert spoons

The flatware belonged to Dr John Keate (1773-1852), Headmaster of Eton College from 1809-1834. John Keate was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He took the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1810. At King's College John Keate had a brilliant career as a scholar; taking holy orders, he became, about 1797, an assistant master at Eton College. In 1809 he was elected headmaster. The discipline of the school was then in a most unsatisfactory condition, and Dr Keate took stern measures to improve it. His partiality for the birch became a by-word, but he succeeded in restoring order and strengthening the weakened authority of the masters. When he retired in 1834, the boys, who admired his courage, presented him with a handsome testimonial. A couple of years before he had publicly flogged eighty boys on one day. Keate was made a canon of Windsor in 1820.

tablespoons, 21.5cm long, 54ozt overall

32

Provenance:

Provenance: By descent from Dr John Keate (1773-1852)