ROYAL. A highly important pair of William IV Silver gilt wine jugs. The first made by John Bridge, London, 1833, the second made by john tapley, London, 1834. Retailed by rundell, bridge and rundell
ROYAL. A highly important pair of William IV Silver gilt wine jugs. The first made by John Bridge, London, 1833, the second made by john tapley, London, 1834. Retailed by rundell, bridge and rundell
374744
These highly important Wine Jugs are inspired by an antique oinochoe. Each of the bodies has a matted surface and are beautifully flat chased with anthemions and tendrils below a frieze of stylised grape laden vine leaves. The neck is chased with lobes and rises to a trefoil spout. The handles spring from bearded Classical masks, are bound by acanthus spears and terminate in a finely detailed, and very unusual, spread eagle thumb piece. The detachable covers with cast grape and matted leaf finials and engraved with the Royal Arms as borne by King William IV of Great Britain, in addition to the inscription "From His Most Gracious Majesty to Thomas Lord Ducie 1834. The base is engraved with the Arms, Motto and Supporters of Thomas Reynolds Morton (1776-1840), 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth Court, created 1837 Baron Moreton of Tortworth and 1st Earl of Ducie. They are further engraved with the Royal Retailers mark "RUNDELL BRIDGE ET Co AURRIFICES REGIS LONDINI," the handle and cover of the first stamped "2". Both Jugs are in excellent condition and are of an outstanding weight. We are sure that they were a special commission of William IV'S for the Royal Collection and then given to his friend Lord Ducie, most probably a Christmas gift. A painting of King William IV is attached in his Robes as a Garter Knight. A painting is also attached of Lord Ducie by Theophilus Clarke and a photograph is show of his seat Tortworth Court.
THE EXCHANGE OF GIFTS BETWEEN WILLIAM IV & BARON DUCIE
The exchange of gifts between William IV and Lord Ducie in 1834 compromised on one side these jugs and on the other an engraved tankard in the Norwegian style, maker's mark of John Plummer, York, 1681. The latter is engraved with the royal arms, the arms of Ducie and the inscription : "Presented to His Majesty William the Fourth by the Lord Ducie 19th Dec 1834 (we can conclude that they must have been Christmas Gifts). See A.E.Jones, The Gold and Silver of Windsor Castle, Letchworth, 1911, p.24,pl XIII. Additional information about this tankard kindly supplied by Kathryn Jones, Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection Trust, states that it is further engraved with the arms of Lytton.
Thomas Reynolds-Moreton, 4th Baron Ducie and 1st Earl of Ducie was born on 31st August, 1776 and was educated at Eton College and Exeter College, Oxford. He succeeded to the title of 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth on 19th August, 1808. On 4th April 1809 he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Royal West Gloucestershire Local Militia at Bristol. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1814. He married Lady Frances Herbert, daughter of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon on 6th December, 1797. They had three sons and five daughters.
PROVENANCE
Gift from King William IV of Great Britain to Thomas Reynolds-Moreton (1776-1840), 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth, created in 1837, Baron Moreton of Tortworth and 1st Earl of Ducie, then by descent to:
Basil Howard Moreton (1917-1991), 6th Earl of Ducie, by whom sold at Christie's London, 7th October, 1959, lot 75 to Thomas Lumley Esq.,
Height to the rim: 8.5 inches, 21.25 cm.
Height to the top of the eagle: 12 inches, 30cm.
Diameter at the widest point: 5.5 inches, 13.75 cm.
Weight: 80oz the pair.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/royal-a-highly-important-pair-of-william-iv-silver-gilt-wine-jugs-the-first-made-by-john-bridge-london-1833-the-second-made-by-john-tapley-london-1834-retailed-by-rundell-bridge-and-rundell&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/639a451fd6c76_image_url_mp564.jpg&description=These highly important Wine Jugs are inspired by an antique oinochoe. Each of the bodies has a matted surface and are beautifully flat chased with anthemions and tendrils below a frieze of stylised grape laden vine leaves. The neck is chased with lobes and rises to a trefoil spout. The handles spring from bearded Classical masks, are bound by acanthus spears and terminate in a finely detailed, and very unusual, spread eagle thumb piece. The detachable covers with cast grape and matted leaf finials and engraved with the Royal Arms as borne by King William IV of Great Britain, in addition to the inscription "From His Most Gracious Majesty to Thomas Lord Ducie 1834. The base is engraved with the Arms, Motto and Supporters of Thomas Reynolds Morton (1776-1840), 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth Court, created 1837 Baron Moreton of Tortworth and 1st Earl of Ducie. They are further engraved with the Royal Retailers mark "RUNDELL BRIDGE ET Co AURRIFICES REGIS LONDINI," the handle and cover of the first stamped "2". Both Jugs are in excellent condition and are of an outstanding weight. We are sure that they were a special commission of William IV'S for the Royal Collection and then given to his friend Lord Ducie, most probably a Christmas gift. A painting of King William IV is attached in his Robes as a Garter Knight. A painting is also attached of Lord Ducie by Theophilus Clarke and a photograph is show of his seat Tortworth Court.THE EXCHANGE OF GIFTS BETWEEN WILLIAM IV & BARON DUCIEThe exchange of gifts between William IV and Lord Ducie in 1834 compromised on one side these jugs and on the other an engraved tankard in the Norwegian style, maker's mark of John Plummer, York, 1681. The latter is engraved with the royal arms, the arms of Ducie and the inscription : "Presented to His Majesty William the Fourth by the Lord Ducie 19th Dec 1834 (we can conclude that they must have been Christmas Gifts). See A.E.Jones, The Gold and Silver of Windsor Castle, Letchworth, 1911, p.24,pl XIII. Additional information about this tankard kindly supplied by Kathryn Jones, Senior Curator of Decorative Arts at the Royal Collection Trust, states that it is further engraved with the arms of Lytton.Thomas Reynolds-Moreton, 4th Baron Ducie and 1st Earl of Ducie was born on 31st August, 1776 and was educated at Eton College and Exeter College, Oxford. He succeeded to the title of 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth on 19th August, 1808. On 4th April 1809 he was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Royal West Gloucestershire Local Militia at Bristol. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1814. He married Lady Frances Herbert, daughter of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon on 6th December, 1797. They had three sons and five daughters.PROVENANCEGift from King William IV of Great Britain to Thomas Reynolds-Moreton (1776-1840), 4th Baron Ducie of Tortworth, created in 1837, Baron Moreton of Tortworth and 1st Earl of Ducie, then by descent to:Basil Howard Moreton (1917-1991), 6th Earl of Ducie, by whom sold at Christie's London, 7th October, 1959, lot 75 to Thomas Lumley Esq.,Height to the rim: 8.5 inches, 21.25 cm.Height to the top of the eagle: 12 inches, 30cm.Diameter at the widest point: 5.5 inches, 13.75 cm.Weight: 80oz the pair.){kind=link}