Of traditional crescent shape, the ends embossed with an acanthus leaf and with a pierced hole. The main part of the front matted and the centre with an embossed wreath cartouche of overlapping leaves held by 4 clasps, all enclosing engraved armorials and crest flanked by elaborate foliate mantling. The border with simple applied wire. Struck with Britannia maker's mark only.
Christies, New York, 21st october,2003, lot 427 (sold for $7170)
The arms are those of Sir Thomas Cotton, 2nd Baronet, Sheriff of Cheshire 1712-1713. He was born in 1672 at Combermere Abbey, Cheshire, being the son of Sir Robert Cotton of Combermere. Rather unusually as a 17 year old he had an arranged marriage on 18th November 1689 to the 13 year old Philadelpha Lynch. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Lynch an extremely wealthy Governor of Jamaica, Attorney General to Charles I and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. However, after his death in 1684, the 9 year old Philadelphia became the ward of her uncle Admiral Sir Arthur Herbert (1648-1716). Sir Arthur coveted the estates in Jamaica so in order to try to keep control he wrote to Sir Robert Cotton suggesting the extraordinary proposal for the two teenagers to be married. Despite this early union the marriage appears to have been a success as Philadelphia bore Thomas 15 children, the first of which was born in 1692 when she was 16 years old. They lived at Llewenny in Denbighshire which was the family seat of his mother nee Hester Salusbury.
Sir Thomas died in 1715 just three years after inheriting the title of 2nd Baronet. He was the 6 X Grandson of Henry VIII through his mother's side (Hester Salusbury). He was succeeded by his 3rd son Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, his other two elder sons predeceasing him. Philadelphia subsequently married Thomas King and died in 1758.
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Gorgets are seldom found at this early period being usually confined to the 2nd half of the 18th century and later. Not only is this example large in size but has a lovely colour, sometimes referred to as "lemon gilding". As Sheriff of Cheshire he was the personal representative of the queen so may have worn this gorget on ceremonial occasions.