Cistern
1698-1699 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This wine cistern is a fine example of the influence of immigrant French silversmiths on the silver trade in England. The sculptural lion mask handles and the applied strapwork panels decorated with foliage were all Huguenot innovations. Many of the refugee craftsmen settled in the Soho and Covent Garden area of London where Ralph Leeke, who made this cistern, had his workshop. Leeke was born in Shropshire, but apprenticed to the London goldsmith Thomas Littleton. He obtained his freedom in 1671 and worked in Covent Garden from 1686. This cistern was produced by a mature craftsman.
This cistern was one of a pair made for Sir Nathaniel Curzon (d.1718) for use at Kedleston, Derbyshire. It bears the coat of arms of Curzon impaling Colyear for his wife, Catherine. Cisterns were used with fountains and coolers in the service of wine. Glasses were filled at the sideboard, offered to guests on a salver, and brought back for rinsing at the fountain. The cistern below served to catch the water used for rinsing the glasses. Larger silver wine coolers were filled with ice to chill the bottles in preparation for serving the wine.
These massive pieces of silver proclaimed the status of the patron and were prominently displayed at one end of the dining room usually in alcoves fitted with marble shelves.
This cistern was one of a pair made for Sir Nathaniel Curzon (d.1718) for use at Kedleston, Derbyshire. It bears the coat of arms of Curzon impaling Colyear for his wife, Catherine. Cisterns were used with fountains and coolers in the service of wine. Glasses were filled at the sideboard, offered to guests on a salver, and brought back for rinsing at the fountain. The cistern below served to catch the water used for rinsing the glasses. Larger silver wine coolers were filled with ice to chill the bottles in preparation for serving the wine.
These massive pieces of silver proclaimed the status of the patron and were prominently displayed at one end of the dining room usually in alcoves fitted with marble shelves.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, cast, chased, embossed and engraved |
| Brief description | Cistern, silver, English, mark of Ralph Leake, London 1698-9 |
| Physical description | The body is decorated with alternate leaves and husk ornament attached to two horizontal bands. Engraved with arms of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, Bart, later Baron Scarsdale of Kedleston, Derbyshire, impaling those of his wife Caroline Colyear. At each end is a lion mask and handle. The foot is decorated with a band of spiral gadrooning and is attached by six bolts and nuts |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Purchased with assistance from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths |
| Object history | Engraved with the arms of Sir Nathaniel Curzon, later Baron Scarsdale of Kedleston impaling those of his wife Caroline Colyear. The engraving dates to the 1758 when Sir Nathaniel succeeded to the baronetcy , and 1761 when he became a peer.In 1698 Leeke also supplied another cistern and a fountain(Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London) copying a Paris original of 1660 (Getty Museum, Malibu, California), to make up two sets of fountains and cisterns. Historical significance: Pairs of cisterns and fountains were considered a mark of wealth and status in the dining chamber. When Lord Scarsdale was equipping Kedleston in the 1760s, he made up two sets using this cistern, another and a fountain, all made by Ralph Leeke in 1698. The fountain was copied from an earlier Paris example of about 1660 also acquired by Scarsdale. |
| Historical context | Sets of wine cisterns and fountains were part of the ceremonial surrounding the serving of wine in grand dining rooms. Fashionable during the late 17th and first half of the 18th century when glasses were not set on the table, but presented on a salver to dinner guests, water was drawn from the fountain to rinse wine glasses, and swilled into the cistern. In the grandest households, the pair might be en suite with an even larger wine cooler holding bottles of wine to replenish the glass after rinsing. |
| Summary | This wine cistern is a fine example of the influence of immigrant French silversmiths on the silver trade in England. The sculptural lion mask handles and the applied strapwork panels decorated with foliage were all Huguenot innovations. Many of the refugee craftsmen settled in the Soho and Covent Garden area of London where Ralph Leeke, who made this cistern, had his workshop. Leeke was born in Shropshire, but apprenticed to the London goldsmith Thomas Littleton. He obtained his freedom in 1671 and worked in Covent Garden from 1686. This cistern was produced by a mature craftsman. This cistern was one of a pair made for Sir Nathaniel Curzon (d.1718) for use at Kedleston, Derbyshire. It bears the coat of arms of Curzon impaling Colyear for his wife, Catherine. Cisterns were used with fountains and coolers in the service of wine. Glasses were filled at the sideboard, offered to guests on a salver, and brought back for rinsing at the fountain. The cistern below served to catch the water used for rinsing the glasses. Larger silver wine coolers were filled with ice to chill the bottles in preparation for serving the wine. These massive pieces of silver proclaimed the status of the patron and were prominently displayed at one end of the dining room usually in alcoves fitted with marble shelves. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.30-1965 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 1, 1998 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
