An early Victorian sterling silver ‘askos’ claret jug, London 1839 by W? probably for William Elliot

An early Victorian sterling silver ‘askos’ claret jug, London 1839 by W? probably for William Elliot

In the form of a Pompeian askos upon a collet foot, the handle formed a fruiting vine with bifurcated junctions inset with ivory insulators, the lower junction over the body with bunches of grapes. The hinged lid with a cast detachable finial formed as a bunch of grapes. Fully marked to the side, part-marks to the interior of lid and finial, the retaining nut with lion passant.

Height – 21.1 cm / 8.3 inches

Weight – 892 grams / 28.68 ozt

A mounted glass askok jug of 1837 by Elliott is illustrated Brett, V. (1986). The Sotheby’s Directory of Silver 1600-1940. London: Philip Wilson. p. 273. Fig. 1259.

A mounted glass askos jug of 1839 by Elliott, was sold Christie’s South Kensington, 16 April 2002, lot 130 (£1763 incl prem)

Another mounted glass askos jug of 1837 by Elliott was sold Sotheby’s The Collection of Mr and Mrs Rene Rivkin, Sydney, 3 June 2001, lot 288

Ivory Declaration: 1NPMBNM8

The original askos upon which all copies are based is of ancient Roman bronze manufacture, having been discovered at Herculaneum and is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (inventory no. 69167).