Nathaniel Mills. A very rare castle top vinaigrette depicting a scarce view of Warwick Castle from the River Avon. Made in Birmingham in 1847 by Nathaniel Mills.

Nathaniel Mills. A very rare castle top vinaigrette depicting a scarce view of Warwick Castle from the River Avon. Made in Birmingham in 1847 by Nathaniel Mills.

£2,450
Reference

374688

The Vinaigrette is modelled in a shaped oval form and displays an outer engraved border of scrolls.  The base is beautifully engraved with different engine turned linear designs around a shield shaped vacant cartouche.  The incuse sides are decorated with hatched engraving and the front displays a cast floral and foliate thumb piece.  The cover is beautifully engraved with a very rare view of Warwick Castle and the River Avon, with the New Bridge in front. The view depicts the state apartments, with Guy's Tower.  The influence for this view was the sketch "The Castle across the River Avon" of 1830, by Joseph Mallard William Turner, which is contained within the Kenilworth Sketchbooks, which are now in the Turner Bequest.  We have only seen this engraved castle top once before.  The interior is finely gilded and the grille is pierced and engraved with pluming feathery scrolls.  Both the interior of the cover and base display clear marks, in addition to a maker's mark on the underside of the grille.

Warwick Castle is a Medieval castle developed from an original built by William the Conqueror in 1068.  In 1604 it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by King James I.  Greville converted it into his country retreat and it was owned by the family, who became the Earls of Warwick in 1759m until 1978.

Length: 1.45 inches, 3.63 cm.

Width: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm

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