A large silver gilt oval tray with handles in the form of entwined serpents; the pierced rim heavily cast with fruiting vines and bacchanalian revellers, leopards and putti; the centre engraved with the Royal coat of arms, Prince of Wales coronet and motto. The tray stands on four feet in the form of lotus buds. This pair of trays formed part of the Grand Service, the magnificent dining service acquired by George IV over his lifetime. An initial delivery from the royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge & Rundell was made in 1811 to Carlton House, with various items of dining-ware being added throughout the Regency. One of the pair of trays was billed in 1812 for £607 19s; the other arrived a year later at a cost of £597 8s 9d. Numerous craftsmen and designers were involved in the service which included works in an eclectic range of styles. The most prominent of these were John Flaxman, Edward Hodges Bailey, William Theed and Thomas Stothard. The design for these trays was the work of Thomas Stothard, and his watercolour of the bacchanalian figures which form the borders is also in the Royal Collection (RCIN 925778). Earlier sketches, in a less finished state, are in the Tate Gallery, London (TO9975 & TO9987). An almost identical tray (ungilded) was presented in 1816 by George IV, when Prince Regent, to General Thomas Garth (1744-1829), an equerry to George III, who acted as guardian to Princess Charlotte of Wales (George IV's daughter) in the months prior to her marriage to Prince Leopold (see Sotheby's, London, 9/7/2014, lot 59).