Postby nobilityhouse » Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:10 pm
The coat of arms is impaled for a husband and wife. On the viewer’s left, the husband’s arms are quartered; Gules (red) and Ermine (fur spots) with the first and fourth quarters containing a goat’s head. This is for MORETON or Morton, possibly of Little Moreton Hall near Congleton in Cheshire. On the viewer’s right the arms are Or (gold) two bars Gules, in chief three torteaux (red circles) for WAKE, possibly of Tothall Manor, Bucks. The names are common, and I have not yet found a marriage connection. I have found a Peter Moreton being private secretary to Sir Isaac Wake, who was ambassador at Turin. Moreton later became ambassador to Genoa and Tuscany for King Charles I, but that was centuries before this salver was made. Normally the crest and motto would match the husband’s arms, but that does not seem to be the case here, at least I have not found a Moreton or Morton that uses a goat’s head in a ducal coronet. The motto translates "Blessed be the name of the Lord" which was a common enough slogan. Perhaps it was a younger son who took up holy orders. This would have made an impressive wedding gift.
