Robert Garrard. An exceptional pair of George III Wine Coolers made in London in 1817 by Robert Garrard.

The Wine Coolers are of Classical Campana form and stand on a circular  foot with incuse sides.  The lower section of the main body displays a wide lobed band and the plain section above is finely engraved with a shield shaped Armorial.   The two side drop handles are attached to the main body with well modelled lion mask mouldings.  The sides rise to an everted rim decorated with gadrooning and the removable plain collar is engraved on one side with a Crest and rises to a second gadrooned band.  Each has a removable central bottle cylinder.  The Coolers are in quite excellent condition, are well marked on each piece and are of a very good weight and gauge.

Height of the Wine Coolers: 8.2 inches, 20.5 cm.

Diameter at the rim: 7.75 inches, 19.38 cm.

Total Weight: 132 oz the pair.

ARMORIAL & CREST RESEARCH

The Coat of Arms engraved on the Wine Coolers is the Armorial of Baker (with a baronet's badge) impaling a lion rampant.  The Crest and Arms are those therefore of the baronetcy of Baker of Dunstable House, Richmond, Surrey.  The wife's arms are those of Williams.  They are specifically those of Sir Henry Loraine Baker, 2nd Baronet (1787-1859).  On 27 June 1820 he married Louisa Ann Williams, the daughter of William Williams of Belmont House, formerly MP for Weymouth, and had two sons and five daughters.   Sir Henry was a naval officer who was promoted to rear-admiral in 1850 and vice admiral in 1857.  They resided at Dunstable House in Richmond. Surrey.  A portrait of the 2nd Baronet is shown.

ROBERT GARRARD - THE MAKER.

The Company that was to become Garrard was founded by George Wickes (1698-1761) who entered his mark at Goldsmiths' Hall in 1722.  The Company moved to Panton Street, off Haymarket, in 1735, as a goldsmith and provider of jewellery and other luxury items to aristocratic patrons.  Wickes was an accomplished silversmith who gained the patronage of Frederick, Prince of Wales.  Two apprentices of Wickes, John Parker and Edward Wakelin, purchased the company following Wickes' retirement in 1760, replaced by John Wakelin and William Taylor in 1776.  Following the death of Taylor, Robert Garrard became a partner in 1792.  Garrard took sole control of the firm in 1802, being patronised by the Royal family.  In 1843 Queen Victoria appointed Garrard as the first ever official Crown Jeweller, leading to the production of numerous pieces of silverware and jewellery for the Royal family, as well as the upkeep of the Crown Jewels.