George III English Sterling Silver and Cut Glass Oil and Vinegar Cruet Stand and Bottles, Samuel Welles, London, 1767/68

A rare form of the cruet stand, this two bottle example features wonderful gadrooned and beaded decoration on the frame along with the original bottles and mounts.  The lids to the bottles have shell-like thumb rests and the handles feature the same foliate and beaded decoration as the frame handle and legs. The scalloped feet continue the beaded motif.

Two bottle cruets such as this were intended for oil and vinegar and are the earliest form of cruets, found in the early 18th century.  It soon became fashionable to include casters in the cruet set and after 1740 most cruets have at least five containers and by the end of the 18th century, some have as many as 10 for various sauces.  While the larger sets are more common, these two bottled ones never completely went out of style and were occasionally made into the early 19th century when they regained some popularity based on French Empire taste.

The survival of original bottles in any cruet is rare and these two are in very good condition with only one very small chip to one.  The stand is fully marked underneath and the lid of each bottle correctly bears the lion passant mark.  The cruet measures 8.5 inches high, 6 inches across the base and has never been monogrammed or crested. The stand weighs a very nice 15.15 troy ounces and is in very good/ excellent antique condition.

Our Price: $4,400.00

Item code: J72