Irish Sterling Wine Funnel, Robert Calderwood, Dublin, c. 1752-58

This wonderful early wine funnel was made by the celebrated Irish silversmith Robert Calderwood.  It is unusually early for a wine funnel. Early Irish funnels such as this are made in a single piece and do not have a filtering device.  Earlier ones are conical and have no bend on the spout. This is a transitional piece, with an ogee bowl and curved spout.  Irish wine funnels do not become common until the 1760’s when they realize their classic three-piece form.

Measuring 3.5 inches high by 2.75 inches in diameter, this rare funnel weighs 2.7 troy ounces.  It is in good/very good antique condition with a few very minor dings and some abrasions to the surface.  For a wine funnel, a utilitarian object used while people were drinking, it is in very good condition having a wonderful color and no restoration.

It is marked with Hibernia, the Harp and Calderwood’s maker’s mark (all rubbed and poorly struck to various degrees).  While the marks are a bit difficult to make out, we are highly confident that they are the same marks illustrated in Douglas Bennett’s Irish Georgian Silver (Part 5, page 269, plate 25) with Calderwood’s makers mark.  According to Bennett, this could only have been assayed in Dublin during 1752/3, 1753/4 or 1758.

Provenance: It bears the crest of an Archbishop. As there were four Irish archbishops in the 18th century, this significantly narrows the list of possible owners: either the Archbishop of Armagh, Dublin, Cashel or Tuam.

Our Price: SOLD

Item code: F516