ANTIQUE SILVER WINE EWERS
Antique Silver wine ewers Description:
A piece of table silverware originally used for holding rose-water for finger-washing before a meal. Later versions were often used to pour water and/or wine during the meal.
Antique Silver wine ewers History:
The first examples were made in the late 17th century, and these together with ewers from the 18th century were mainly intended for use with water, either for consumption or for finger-washing. In the latter part of the 18th century they were also made for serving cold or mulled wines. They were made throughout the Georgian and Victorian periods. They went out of vogue in the 20th century.
Antique Silver wine ewers Design:
Early examples are characterised by inverted helmet styles with wide open mouths and a scroll side handle, often with a pedestal foot. Later Georgian and Victorian versions were designed more on an amphora style with narrow necks and smaller mouths, but still with a single side handle. Many had hinged lids and were decorated with hand-chased / engraved scenes or floral work. Those intended for serving wine were often designed with vine-leaf and grape decoration.
Antique Silver wine ewers Collectors Note:
Early examples from the 17th and early 18th centuries are very rare and command high prices. Georgian or early Victorian wine ewers with grapevine decoration or very sought after. Look closely at where the handle and pedestal foot are joined to the body for evidence or repairs, and check the main body for thin patches where armorials have been erased. If there is a hinged lid then this must bear part-marks that correspond to the main mark on the body.