These exceptional antique George III sterling silver wine coolers have a circular rounded form onto a circular spreading foot.
Each body is embellished with a bright cut engraved shield shaped coat of arms depicting in-escutcheon firstly and fourthly a bugle horn stringed between three crescents, secondly and thirdly a boar's head.
The aforementioned coat of arms is surmounted with the crests of a demi-dragon rampant, holding a battle-axe and a dragons head pierced through the neck with a spear.
The upper rim of each piece is encircled with applied moulded decoration.
Each antique wine cooler is fitted with an exceptional pair of cast and applied handles, each fashioned in the form of lion's masks grasping a drop-ring handle.
These antique silver coolers are supported by circular spreading feet embellished with bands of tooled decoration to the lower portion.
These exceptional examples of Georgian silverware retain the original, hallmarked detachable rims and liners.
The cylindrical solid silver rim of each piece is encircled with a band of applied thread decoration to the upper portion.
The swept surface of each rim is ornamented with the aforementioned bright cut engraved crests.
The surface of each liner is plain and unembellished, apart from the featured hallmarks.
The components of these exceptional antique wine coolers were made by the renowned London silversmith John Houle.
Such pairs of original Georgian wine coolers are becoming increasingly difficult to locate.
Maker: John Houle
