Pair Victorian Elkington Plate wine coolers. Maker: Elkington, Mason & Co. 1857

Very elegant and impressive pair of Victorian Elkington Electroplate wine coolers in good condition.

Made in 1857 by Elkington, Mason & Co.

The lobed, plain body is engraved on one side with a contemporary family crest of a Centaur with head and shoulders turned backwards, about to shoot an arrow from his bow.

The two handles on each cooler are decoratively designed with two serpents heads at the top and a rams head at the base. The top of the body is decorated with bold beading and the circular foot echoes the lobing on the body.

When not in use for serving drinks, these coolers would look extremely attractive filled with flowers or fruit.



Elkington became extremely successful and was one of the leading producers of silver plating and received various royal warrants of appointments. One of their most famous pieces is the electrotype copy of the Jerningham Wine Cooler, at the Victoria & Albert Museum.



Although these coolers are not solid sterling silver, Elkington evolved their own hallmarking system by which you could identify the year in which the object was made. The Elkington hallmarks for these coolers are clearly stamped just below the beading on the rim.



Height: 12 ins (30 cm) to top of handle

Width: 13.8 ins (35.3 cm) overall



Condition: Good