London 1828 by John Bridge of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell (reg. 25th Nov 1823)
A George IV sterling silver gilt twin handled cup and cover or wine cooler

Of campana form upon a pedestal foot, twin scroll fluted handles, the pull off domed lid surmounted by a detachable bell form finial. The front with an applied scene of Dionysus wearing a panther skin and Ariadne each carrying the infant Oenopion within a basket holding fruiting vine. The upper section with a die rolled band of trailing wild berries, the sides above the handles with applied rosette scrolls and foliage motifs. The foot with a fluted section,the lower section of body with a band of stylised palmette, repeated to the lid terrace, with an ovolo rim. Fully marked to the side, part-marked to the lid, the footrim edge stamped with 'RUNDELL BRIDGE ET RUNDELL AURIFICES REGIS LONDON'.

Height – 47.7 cm / 19 inches

Weight – 4650 grams / 149.5 ozt

Items of silver marked for John Bridge (1755-1834) that have applied allegorical or mythological figural scenes upon an overwise largely plain classical form include a pair of wine coolers of 1826 made for George IV, the scenes designed by John Flaxman (1755-1826) depicting a poem by Hesiod, listing the five ages of man, (Royal Collection RCIN 51647), also a four-piece tea and coffee service made for the architect Thomas Hope (1769-1831), sold Christie’s London 8 Feb 2024, lot 50 (£9450 incl. prem), illustrated The Glory of the Goldsmith, Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, London, 1989, no. 157, p. 204.