Inscribed on the reverse: V.V.J. Burton / Admissis, / In Coll. Winton, / Greviliis. [The venerable John Burton on the admission of the Grevilles to Winchester College]

This salver was presented to John Burton (Headmaster, 1724-66) to commemorate the admission of Fulke Greville and his cousin Francis Greville as Commoners of Winchester College in 1728.

One of Burton’s aims was to raise the social standing of the school by taking aristocratic pupils as resident Commoners (fee-paying pupils) who lodged with the headmaster in Chamber Court. His success in this endeavour was commemorated in a series of portraits, known as the ‘Gentlemen Commoners’, still displayed in the dining room of the Master-in-College. Among them are the two boys whose place in the school is commemorated by this salver: Fulke Greville (1717-1806; Commoner, 1728-33), and Francis Greville (1719-73; Commoner, 1728-34), 8^th Baron Brooke.

Around the rim is an engraved band of decoration, with shells and baskets of flowers among trellis work. The style is typical of the 1720s and is transitional between Baroque and Rococo.

Provenance: Purchased by the College from Thomas Lumley Ltd., London, 1963 (£341)

Location: Treasury, Gallery 1