Property from the Richard Kent Collection
Astor Family: American Silver-Mounted Claret Jug and Six Matching Glasses, Edward C. Moore for Tiffany & Co., New York, Circa 1863-64
Lot Closed
January 23, 05:24 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Astor Family: American Silver-Mounted Claret Jug and Six Matching Glasses, Edward C. Moore for Tiffany & Co., New York, Circa 1863-64
the ovoid glass body engraved with scrolling ivy enclosing a crest, faceted neck, sitting on a silver base shaped as a classical tripod with paw feet headed by ivy, the vermiculé handle wrapped in berried ivy above a satyr mask, plain hinged cover, the glasses with bowls etched to match, silver stems and bases also vermiculé and applied with berried ivy, marked on bases, with Gothic M mark for Moore and numbered 1307-8886
heights 11 in., 4 1/2 in.
28 cm, 11.5 cm
The crest of a demi-lion rampant holding a star was used by the Astor family on their tablewares, as can be seen on the applied gold crests of the dinner plates made by Samuel Kirk & Son for William B. Astor in 1874, and on flatware and glassware with the same provenance (descended to Brooke Astor, and sold Sotheby's, New York, January 25-26, 2013, lots 131-134, 137, 139-40, and 143).
This strongly suggests that this jug and glasses belonged to William B. Astor and his wife Caroline, the Mrs. Astor, who were married in 1853 and who started their new mansion at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in 1862. This pattern number in the Tiffany registered corresponds to 1863-64. The set may also have belonged to William's older brother and next-door neighbor John Jacob Astor III - the block with two mansions later the site of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, then the Empire State Building.
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