A fine quality George IV large heavy cast silver gilt Wine Label of cartouche form with shell and acanthus leaf scrolled borders, with raised lettering for Hermitage on a stippled ground. By Phillip Rundell, London, 1822.

A very fine George III heavy cast silver Wine Label made in the form of a scallop shell, the shaped name plate pierced for Claret. By Benjamin Smith, London 1807.

A very fine George III cast silver gilt Wine Label, the design known as the "Leopards Pelt", of cartouche form with vine leaf and grape surround, a leopards skin with head and paws draped over the peaked crescent shaped name plate with raised letters for Port on a matt background. Complete with large heavy gauge suspension chain. The larger of the two known sizes of this design. By Paul Storr, London, 1810.

A very fine quality George III heavy cast silver Wine Label made in the form of a scallop shell, the applied name plate incised for Sherry. By Benjamin Smith, London 1807.

A very fine George III cast silver gilt Wine Label, the design known as the "Leopards Pelt", of cartouche form with vine leaf and grape surround, a leopards skin with head and paws draped over the peaked crescent shaped name plate with raised letters for Claret on a matt background. Complete with large heavy gauge suspension chain. By Paul Storr, London, 1815.

The Earl of Eldon's Silver Gilt Decanter Labels
An extremely fine pair of early Victorian cast silver gilt Wine Labels in the form of vine leaves with five lobes and thick tendril mounts, realistic frosted finish and pierced for PORT & SHERRY. Engraved to the reverse with the crest and coronet of John Scott, 2nd Earl of Eldon.
By Benjamin Smith, London 1838.
 

 

One of the most renowned manufacturing firms of supreme quality silver of the Regency era was Rundell, Bridge and Rundell (Royal Goldsmiths & Jewellers by appointment) whose designs were particularly influenced by late 18th century French silver which inspired the early strains of naturalism and the revival of the Rococo style. Both Paul Storr and Benjamin Smith carried out work for this firm who produced much silver plate for the Prince Regent. The motifs and embellishments of the Regency era, in particular the grape vine and tedril, wreaths, lions' masks and figures of wine mythology, were highly adaptable to wine label design. Unlike earlier times, it is of particular interest to note that the major silversmiths of Regency period were practically all responsible for the manufacture of wine labels of particular and often unique design. Paul Storr and Benjamin Smith, together with other famous silversmiths such as Digby Scott, Edward Farrell and Phillip Rundell, produced large and fine wine labels in this period.

"Gent, No Gent & Re.gent!!" 
Hand-coloured etching by George Cruikshank, 5th July 1816

A sequence of three designs placed side by side. [1] As a 'Gent' the Prince is a handsome and stalwart young officer in the uniform of the 10th Light Dragoons of which he was Colonel. He stands in a landscape, the cloudy sky behind him irradiated by a rising sun.
[2] In the squalid room of a low tavern the Prince revels with Mrs. Fitzherbert and his boon companions. He sits on her lap, tipsily holding up a wine-glass; Fox, standing behind them, drunkenly empties a bottle over the glass. George Hanger sits on a chair, holding bottle and glass, his bludgeon and a watchman's broken lantern beside him. Sheridan stands behind. A table beside the Prince tilts so that cards and dice fall off. Below it grovels Norfolk, vomiting into a tub, beside which is a paper: 'Dean Swift's Maw Wallop' [filthy dish of food]. A wall-clock lit by a single candle shows that it is 4 or 5 a.m. On the wall are pasted: [1] a ballad, 'Black Joke'; [2] 'The Last Dying Speech for High Treason'; [3] 'Cock & Hen Club St Gilse's—Chairman George Whelp Deputy Charley Wag members Hanger—Sherry—Norfolk— Barrymore —Slender Billy—' He is fat and disheveled, his loosened garter is inscribed 'Honi so[it]'.
[3] As Regent he sits enthroned under a canopy, grossly fat and supported on crutches, his vast gouty legs resting on a cushion. Lady Hertford seated beside him (left), proffers a glass from a bowl of punch, while McMahon, tiny as usual, and standing on a stool, hands a glass of brandy from decanters (right) on a table, below which bottles are stacked. His 'Privy Purse', hangs from his pocket. The Regent sits impassively, his eyes turned to the lady, who has huge breasts but is not otherwise caricatured. He wears uniform with the Garter ribbon and a great display of orders. On his head, resting on a pyramid of curls, is a Chinese head-dress, surmounted by a cone decorated with bells; his shoes are Chinese. A hint of whisker in [2] has developed into a furry border to his bulging cheeks. Above his head hangs one of the dragons of the Pavilion, much burlesqued and with a tongue inscribed 'Taste'.


Featured Item

 

A fine large Victorian silver Vinaigrette of shaped rectangular form with engine turned and reeded decoration to the base and sides, the lid with raised black glass panel inset with an oval micro mosaic depicting The Rialto Bridge in Venice. The silver gilt interior with pierced "musical grille" including a wind instrument, a lyre and sheet music within leaves and flower heads. Engraved script initials to interior lid.

By Edward Edwards, London 1846.