The Guinness Family Monteith. A Highly Important Early George Iii Rococo Style Monteith Bowl Made in London in 1768 by Francis Crump.
Price on application
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: circa 1768
ORIGIN: London, England
MAKER: Francis Crump
STOCK CODE: 374295
Featured Crests
Item Description
The Monteith was used to cool the bowls of drinking glasses, with the foot of the glass hanging from the wavy rim, so that the bowl of the glass might hang into the iced water to cool it before serving the wine. This important example is thought to be the only in existence decorated in the late Rococo style and stands on a circular domed foot decorated with vines and grapes. The baluster shaped main body is beautifully, and unusually, chased and embossed with trailing vine tendrils with putto and lions grappling and wrestling for the fruit. Each side is also embossed with barrels and drinking goblets, underneath two cast drop ring handles, of scroll form decorated with leaf capping. The front, and reverse, of the main body displays a raised scroll cartouche very finely engraved with an Armorial, with Crest above. The detachable collar has a scalloped edge and is decorated with trailing vines and grapes, together with a rope work and Bacchus Boy mask border. Due to its importance, this particular Monteith is illustrated on page 48 of "British Silver Monteith Bowls", by Georgina E. Lee and was formerly in the possession of H.R. Jessop Ltd, one of the most important London silver dealers of the 1960's and 1970's. The design is also most unusual as the collar can be removed and it can also be used as a Punch Bowl. This is shown in one of the images.
The Arms and Crest are those of Guinness of Dublin, a family tracing its ancestry back to Richard Guinness of Celbridge, County Kildare, born circa 1680. His grandson, Arthur Guinness II was a successful brewer, banker, politician and flour miller and established the great brewing dynasty which we know today. A portrait is attached and he became renowned as the foremost of the merchants in his native city of Dublin. Arthur II was born in 1768. The family were raised to the Peerage as Barons Iveagh in 1891, Viscounts Iveagh in 1905 and Earls of Iveagh in 1919. Their seat is the magnificent Elveden Hall in Norfolk, an image of which is also attached.
This highly important example is in excellent, crisp, condition and is fully marked in the foot and on the collar and is also engraved in the foot with a collection inventory number. Francis Crump was a very fine silversmith, who was apprenticed to Gabriel Sleath, another silversmith who had a reputation for fine quality in design and production. He had workshops in Gutter Lane when this piece was made.
Height: 9 inches, 22.5cm.
Diameter, at the rim: 11.5 inches, 28.75cm.
Weight: 78oz.
OFFERED BY:
Mary Cooke Antiques
12 Old Power Station, 121 Mortlake High Street, London, SW14 8SN, United Kingdom View map
Show this exhibitor's phone number
View all of this exhibitor's items
Price on application