A very fine pair of early George III Wine Coasters made in London in 1770 by Francis Spilsbury.
A very fine pair of early George III Wine Coasters made in London in 1770 by Francis Spilsbury.
375225
The Coasters are circular in form, with a stepped base and a cast gadrooned rim. The sides are beautifully pierced and engraved with vertical plain pails containing stylised trailing foliate sprigs and pretty flower heads. The front displays a shaped cartouche, which is engraved with a contemporary double Crest, of family of the original owners. Both are in quite excellent condition and possess their original turned mahogany bases. They are well marked, as they are marked on one of the vertical pails.
Wine Coasters do not exist in great quantity from this early date and they are near impossible to find in England before 1760, therefore these represent a very fine early pair. Francis Spilsbury was one of the finest pierced workers at this date and had a reputation for quality in production and innovative design incorporating flowers and animals in his piercing. He had workshop at 24, Gutter Lane, in the City of London, when these Coasters were made. A similar single coaster, by William Lestourgeon, is contained within the famous Albert Collection and is illustrated on page 256 of the collection catalogue. The extract is attached at the end of the image stream.
When first introduced, Coasters served three functions. First, they prevented drips of wine reaching the table or its cloth. Second, they helped to prevent decanters chipping or cracking by separating them on the table, and third, when the table cloth is removed, their baize lined bases allow the smooth passage of the decanter from one diner to another by sliding it and its coaster along the table. It is the last feature which gave them their Eighteenth century name - bottle slides.
Diameter: 4,65 inches, 11.63 cm.
Height: 1.8 inches, 4.5 cm.
RELATED ITEMS
