A George II Silver Basket, Christian Hillan, London, 1742

Weschler's, Rockville, MD, February 2, 2008, lot 244

Christie's, New York, October 23, 2008, lot 212

The arms are those of Rowley with Dawson in pretence for Sir William Rowley (1690-1768) and his wife Arabella (d. 1784), daughter of Captain George Dawson, Londonderry, whom he married 21 July 1729. They had four sons and one daughter, including Sir Joshua Rowley (1730?-1790), 1st baronet, also a distinguished British naval officer.

Sir William was the son of William Rowley of Whitehall, a court official under William III. The son entered the navy as a volunteer in 1704, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1708, serving mostly in the Mediterranean. He traveled to Paris in 1716 for George I, perhaps working on the triple alliance with France and the United Provinces. Following this he was given command of the Bideford and made Captain.

After fighting piracy along the coast of Ireland, in 1743 he was appointed to Rear-Admiral of the White. After an engagement off Toulon in 1744, Rowley was praised for his bravery but more senior officers were questioned, and the investigation ended his naval career.

Rowley became M.P. for Taunton (1750-1754) and Portsmouth (1754-1761), and was appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty in 1751. Named a Knight of the Bath in 1753, he was made Commander-in-Chief and Admiral of the Fleet in 1762, before dying in 1768.

A similar silver cake basket by Christian Hillan, 1741, but with pierced sides was sold Christie's London, 6 July 1988, lot 128.