A pair of carved ivory letter racks, Canton, first quarter of the 19th Century, each with armorial to cresting above five pierced carved racks decorated figures and flanked by bird supports, the frame carved with figures and dragons, 47.5cm high x 20cm wide, each in an ebony case with coronet finials above pagoda tops, the cases 74cm high x 33cm wide

Ivory Exemption reference: VUPY4QRK

Omberlsey Court, Worcestershire.

Commissioned by or for Mary (née Sandys) Marchioness of Downshire, who in 1768 married Arthur Hill. He became 2^nd Marquess of Downshire in 1793. After Mary's death in 1836, their eldest son Arthur Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill became 3^rd Marquess.

She was niece and heir of Edwin Sandys, 2^nd Baron Sandys of Ombersley, who d.s.p. in 1801 when the title became extinct. The title was created again for Mary in June 1802, becoming Baroness Sandys of Ombersley in her own right (suo jure) with remainder to her four younger sons. She was succeeded as 2^nd Baron (of the 2^nd Creation) by her second son, Arthur Moyses William Hill.

The Arms On the left: Arms of Hill quartering Trevor and two coats for Rowe (although the third quarter should have one cinquefoil and not five. Above this is the coronet of a marquess – marchioness in this case – and beneath is the motto Per Deum et ferrum obtinui, one of two recorded for the Marquess of Downshire. On the right: arms of Sandys beneath the coronet of a baron/baroness and supporters. The arms therefore indicate that these exquisitely carved letter racks were made between 1802-36.