Lot Essay
For a European silver prototype, see Christopher Hartop, The Huguenot Legacy, English Silver 1680-1760, pp.263-267, where the author states that 'few (silver) wine coolers appear to have been made after 1730, and their decline in popularity is perhaps explained by the change in drinking habits that took place during the first half of the eighteenth century. Owing to the almost continual war with the French, and the favourable rates of duty given to Portuguese wines after the Methuen Treaty was signed in 1703, French wines all but disappeared from England by the 1720's. The fortified red wine known as 'port', which under the Hanoverians became known as 'the Englishman's wine', was drunk at room temperature. It was not until the 1770's, when the consumption of French wines became widespread once again, and - perhaps most importantly - sparkling champagne became popular, that the custom of chilling wine revived'. This shape was copied in Marieberg between 1758-1766. This is one of a number of Marieberg faience shapes which were imitated in Chinese export porcelain, clearly intended initially for the Swedish market. For similar wine coolers, see M. Beurdeley, op.cit., p.174, cat.110; J. G. Phillips, op.cit., p.77, colour pl.11 and p.158, fig.51, where it is illustrated together with a Marieberg prototype. A pair of similar wine coolers, decorated in the famille rose 'tobacco-leaf' palette, was sold in these Rooms, 15 May 1995, lot 109; and a pair of Chinese Imari ice-pails, without foliate rims, was sold in these Rooms, 7 November 1994, lot 206