A George III gilt-bronze wine cooler circa 1805, Workshop of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell

after a design by Jean-Jacques Boileau, attributed to Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, with twin handles in the form of snakes coiled around a classical mask head, with a flared reeded edge above floral and reeded borders above twin eagles holding a cup, raised on four sphinx supports on a trefoil concave sided platform with an egg and dart border, raised on claw feet, marked on the base RUNDELL BRIDGE & RUNDELL AURIFICES ET PRINCIPIS WALLIA LONDINI FECERUNT , with a removeable copper liner

M. Snodin, 'J. J. Boileau: A Forgotten Designer of Silver', The Connoisseur, June 1978, pp. 124-33.

H. Young, 'A Further Note on J. J. Boileau, "A Forgotten Designer of Silver"', Apollo, October 1986, pp. 334-37.

T. Schroder, The Gilbert Collection of Gold and Silver, 1988, pp. 337-341, no. 89-90.

Harris Lindsay Works of Art, 2005 Catalogue, London, pp.12-14.

Overall in good condition, retaining old brass liner, some small old marks and minor wear to gilding. In need of cleaning.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This Egyptian style gilt-bronze wine cooler is based on a drawing dated circa 1800 by the French-born artist Jean-Jacques Boileau, now in the Victoria and Albert Print Room and part of a collection of 78 designs for silver by this artist. This collection was once owned by A.C.Pugin (described in his sale catalogue in 1833), with whom Boileau worked at the Windsor Castle renovations. Boileau was part of the milieu working for the Prince of Wales at Carlton House and was probably brought over from Paris by Henry Holland in 1787 to help with this project.

Inspired by Napoleon's Egyptian campaign and by publications such as Vivant Denon's Voyages dans la Basse et la Haute Egypte of 1802 the Graeco-Egyptian style become popular in the erudite circles of London, inspiring Thomas Hope and his designs, the Prince of Wales and his projects, and Rundell, Bridge and Rundell and his products. This firm, with the help of artists like Boileau created a repertoire of designs for their creations through the hands of renowned silversmiths like Digby Scott, Benjamin Smith and Paul Storr. The later, for example, used this same cooler design for the frieze and snake handles of a pair of silver-gilt wine coolers at Woburn Abbey. 

Of the same model of our cooler, a gilt-bronze pair was sold by Christie’s (House Sale, Sheringham Hall, Norfolk, 22-23 October 1986, lot 106) and had been sold previously by the 1st Viscount Bridport, grandnephew of Admiral Viscount Nelson; a set of four was sold by Christie’s New York, 10 January 1991, lot 53, having belonged previously by the Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos Collection. One pair was for sale with the London dealers Harris Lindsay in 2005.