The Parker Wine Cistern
Cistern
1719-1720 (hallmarked)
1719-1720 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This wine cistern is part of a silver wine set comprising fountain, cistern and cooler. The function of the set was to rinse glasses and cool wine bottles. In the 18th century wine glasses were not set on the table, but brought to each diner by a servant; when empty, the glass was removed for washing and refilling. The glass was rinsed with water from the fountain, the dirty water discarded into the cistern, and the glass refilled from the wine bottles chilling in the cooler. The set would have been arranged in tiers on a sideboard in the dining room but the large and heavy cooler was generally placed on the floor.
Design & Designing
The body of this cistern is ornamented with a band of strapwork and shells on the upper part, and gadrooning on the lower. The gadrooning at foot and rim is offset by the bold upward-scrolled handles supported on brackets. The handles are purely decorative, intended for display.
Ownership & Use
Only the extremely wealthy could afford a matching wine set of such magnificence. With its elaborate flowing curves and massive sculptural decoration, the set is designed to be seen as a unit and create a strong visual impact.
This wine cistern is part of a silver wine set comprising fountain, cistern and cooler. The function of the set was to rinse glasses and cool wine bottles. In the 18th century wine glasses were not set on the table, but brought to each diner by a servant; when empty, the glass was removed for washing and refilling. The glass was rinsed with water from the fountain, the dirty water discarded into the cistern, and the glass refilled from the wine bottles chilling in the cooler. The set would have been arranged in tiers on a sideboard in the dining room but the large and heavy cooler was generally placed on the floor.
Design & Designing
The body of this cistern is ornamented with a band of strapwork and shells on the upper part, and gadrooning on the lower. The gadrooning at foot and rim is offset by the bold upward-scrolled handles supported on brackets. The handles are purely decorative, intended for display.
Ownership & Use
Only the extremely wealthy could afford a matching wine set of such magnificence. With its elaborate flowing curves and massive sculptural decoration, the set is designed to be seen as a unit and create a strong visual impact.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Britannia standard silver, raised, embossed, chased and cast |
| Brief description | The Macclesfield Wine Set |
| Physical description | Britannia standard silver cistern with two handles, with an applied coat of arms for Thomas Parker, 1st Earl Macclesfield. The oval cistern has a gadrooned rim and a flattened urn-shaped body resting on a plain stem and gadrooned foot. The two handles are in the form of baroque scrolls resting on inverted brackets. The body is decorated with a band of applied and embossed shell and scroll ornament. The lower part of the bowl is embossed with widely-spaced gadroons, strapwork and sunken bosses. The coat of arms, supporters and earl's coronet is applied centrally over the upper ornamental band. The cistern is lined with plain sheet |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
FOUNTAIN, WINE CISTERN AND COOLER The practical function of these three pieces was for serving wine. Such magnificent silver was also a bold statement of the owner's wealth and sophistication. This set would have cost around £1,200 a vast sum compared with a half portrait painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller (about £35) or a coach (between £60-120). This is the only known matching set of three pieces still to survive. SALVER AND GLASSES Around 1700 wine glasses were not set on the table, but brought to each diner by a servant. A toast was drunk, the glass drained and returned, then rinsed with water from the fountain and refilled. These pieces are reproductions.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Acquired with support from Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation), the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Hugh Philips Fund, and a number of private donations |
| Object history | Made for Thomas Parker, later 1st Earl of Macclesfield (1666-1732), of Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire. Made in London by Anthony Nelme (active 1679-1722) The cistern forms part of the Macclesfield Wine Set, with a fountain and identically decorated but larger cooler, supplied to Thomas Parker, 1st Earl Macclesfield (1666-1732). The cistern was used to rinse out dirty wine glasses in the dining room. For full details on the history and use of the set, see M.25-1998 Historical significance: For the significance of the Macclesfield Wine Set, see M.25-1998 |
| Historical context | For the context of the Macclesfield Wine Set, see M.25-1998 |
| Summary | Object Type This wine cistern is part of a silver wine set comprising fountain, cistern and cooler. The function of the set was to rinse glasses and cool wine bottles. In the 18th century wine glasses were not set on the table, but brought to each diner by a servant; when empty, the glass was removed for washing and refilling. The glass was rinsed with water from the fountain, the dirty water discarded into the cistern, and the glass refilled from the wine bottles chilling in the cooler. The set would have been arranged in tiers on a sideboard in the dining room but the large and heavy cooler was generally placed on the floor. Design & Designing The body of this cistern is ornamented with a band of strapwork and shells on the upper part, and gadrooning on the lower. The gadrooning at foot and rim is offset by the bold upward-scrolled handles supported on brackets. The handles are purely decorative, intended for display. Ownership & Use Only the extremely wealthy could afford a matching wine set of such magnificence. With its elaborate flowing curves and massive sculptural decoration, the set is designed to be seen as a unit and create a strong visual impact. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | See M.25-1998 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.26-1998 |
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| Record created | September 10, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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