19th Mar, 2024 11:00
A fine Victorian sterling silver mounted ‘iced water’ jug, London 1843 by John Mortimer and John Samuel Hunt
Of inverted baluster form upon a spreading circular foot, the everted neck with a silver handled modelled as a vine leading to a surround of fruiting vine, the hinged lid of conforming shape with fruiting vine edge surmounted by a detachable cast finial of a crown. The front incorporating an initial of a D with mirrored G’s below a marquess’s coronet. The frosted clear glass body wheel engraved to the front with initials HB in cypher below a crest of a boar with seven ears of wheat (?). Engraved underneath the foot mount No 2 and scratch weight 38”0, stamped 1211, HUNT & MORTIMER, and a 2. Fully and part-marked.
Height – 35.5 cm / 13.9 inches
The initials are most likely for George Hamilton Chichester, 3rd Marquess of Donegall (1797-1883), styled Viscount Chichester until 1799 and Earl of Belfast between 1799 and 1844. The son of George Augustus Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall (1769-1844). He married firstly 8th December 1822 Lady Harriet Anne Butler (1799-1860), daughter of Richard Butler 1st Earl of Glengall (1775-1819) and secondly 26 Feb 1862 Harriet Ashworth (b. c.1817-1884), only dau. of Sir Bellingham Reginald Graham, 7th Bt., of Norton Conyers, co. York and widow of Lt Gen Sir Frederick Ashworth KCB (b.c.1784-1858).
He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household from 1830 to 1834, as well as from 1838 to 1841, and as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard between 1848 and 1852. Ennobled in his own right in 1841 as Baron Ennishowen and Carrickfergus, he was also Lord Lieutenant of Antrim from 1841 to 1883 and was made a Knight of St Patrick in 1857.
A pair of these jugs by Hunt and Mortimer, with the Royal cypher for Queen Victoria was purchased on the 30 September 1840 for £94 10s where the bill describes them as iced water jugs rather than the expected claret jugs (RCIN 50659).
A pair of these jugs upon stands is illustrated Brett, V. (1986). The Sotheby’s Directory of Silver 1600-1940. London: Philip Wilson. p. 278. Fig. 1288.
Do you have an item similar to the item above? If so please click the link below to submit a free online valuation request through our website.