Essex Jewelry and Antiques
1763 ENGLISH STERLING SILVER & CUT GLASS CASTOR SET
Regular price
$1,858.00
Presented is a fine quality 18th century English sterling silver castor set made by John Delmester of London. The sterling silver base is raised up on four shell form legs. The five glass bottles are all cut with similar if not identical geometric designs, but they are probably not all original because they have different lids. One lid is engraved with a crest of crown surmounted with a bird with a branch in its mouth. The two largest bottles have crests of an eagle on the lid. The other two bottles are not monogrammed or engraved. The sterling silver stand has a cartouche at the front engraved with a crest of two snakes intertwined with a hand grabbing both snakes near the head. The handle at the center of the stand can unscrew.
The base is hallmarked with the lion passant for sterling silver, the leopard’s head crowned for London, the date letter ‘H’ for 1763, and a maker’s mark of ID for John Delmester. The handle is also marked with the lion passant and the maker’s mark.
The condition is excellent. The glass is in great shape. The two smallest bottles with the sterling silver cap on the bottom have undoubtedly been repaired. Originally these sterling caps would not have been there. These glass bottles would have had glass bases. Undoubtedly the glass base was broken. The glass was undoubtedly ground down and a sterling silver cap was fitted to the bottom of each bottle. This work was very well done. In the photos someone neglected to polish the bottom of one of these bottles and it looks quite dark. This small sterling cap has already been polished, and it looks great, like all of the other silver. There are no dents, no breaks, and no repairs.
The stand measures 6 inches wide and 8 3/4 inches tall.
The five glass bottles range in size from 5 1/4 inches tall to 6 1/2 inches tall.
The weight of the sterling silver stand alone is 475 grams or 16.6 ounces.
The base is hallmarked with the lion passant for sterling silver, the leopard’s head crowned for London, the date letter ‘H’ for 1763, and a maker’s mark of ID for John Delmester. The handle is also marked with the lion passant and the maker’s mark.
The condition is excellent. The glass is in great shape. The two smallest bottles with the sterling silver cap on the bottom have undoubtedly been repaired. Originally these sterling caps would not have been there. These glass bottles would have had glass bases. Undoubtedly the glass base was broken. The glass was undoubtedly ground down and a sterling silver cap was fitted to the bottom of each bottle. This work was very well done. In the photos someone neglected to polish the bottom of one of these bottles and it looks quite dark. This small sterling cap has already been polished, and it looks great, like all of the other silver. There are no dents, no breaks, and no repairs.
The stand measures 6 inches wide and 8 3/4 inches tall.
The five glass bottles range in size from 5 1/4 inches tall to 6 1/2 inches tall.
The weight of the sterling silver stand alone is 475 grams or 16.6 ounces.