An extremely large George II sterling silver salver, London 1753 by Dorothy Mills (reg. 6th April 1752) of shaped circular form with a cavetto edge and moulded rim, raised upon four ball and claw feet. The field centre engraved with a contemporaneous quartered coat of arms with another upon an escutcheon of pretence, in an asymmetrical rocaille cartouche within foliate scrolls and foliage. Fully marked to the reverse. Diameter – 59 cm / 23.25 inches Weight – 4388 grams / 143.08 ozt The arms are for Ashby quartering Craddock with Hinde on an escutcheon of pretence For Shukburgh or Shuckburgh Ashby (1724 – 1792) son of Shukburgh Ashby (1690-1752) and Mary, daughter and heir of Nathaniel Cradock of Cossington (1667-1698). He married on the 23rd Dec 1745 Elizabeth Hinde (1723-95), the daughter and heiress of Richard Hinde of Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire, with whom he had two daughters. In 1728 he inherited the Quenby estate from his great-uncle George Ashby (1656 – 1728). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756. He was appointed High Sheriff of Leicestershire for 1758–59 and became Member of Parliament for Leicester at a by-election in February 1784. Quenby Hall, a grade one listed Jacobean house, remained in the Ashby family until 1904. This salver was likely commissioned due to the inheritance of Shukburgh Ashy upon the death of his father.