Wine cooler
Edward Barnard & Sons
Category
Metalwork
Date
1842 - 1843
Materials
Silver, sterling, base metal
Measurements
29.1 x 66.5 x 31.1 cm; 8533 g (Weight)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 516397
Summary
A large wine cooler modelled as a four-wheeled chariot, silver (sterling), mark of Edward Barnard & Sons, London, 1842/3, repurposed as a jardiniere, (with later unmarked silver rim, and base metal liner and grill). Standing on four fixed cast wheels; the scrolled spokes centre on a berry-like hub, attached to ornate cast axils with central fluted lobes partially surrounded by acanthus leaves. Rising from one lobe is a cast scrolled draft pole. A rococo shield at its terminal is inscribed: ‘PRESENTED/ TO THE OFFICERS OF THE/ 1st REGT OF LIFE GUARDS/ by Sir H. Hervey Bruce Bart/ on his leaving the regiment/ 1841’. Each side of the jardiniere is decorated with embossed lobes, applied foliage, panels of engraved diaper-work, and a large plaque secured by three nuts. The plaques centre on the cypher of the Life Guards, ‘LG’ within their motto: ‘HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE’, with the royal crown above. On either side flags inscribed ‘WATERLOO’ and ‘PENINSULA’ hang between sprays of oak and laurel leaves; a ribbon, inscribed on ‘FIRST REGIMENT’ is draped below. Standing proud at either end of the wine cooler is a large cast figure of winged Victory holding a laurel wreath in her outstretched arms. Beneath the figure at the front is a lobe engraved with a coat of arms and crest. The wine cooler’s original liner is missing. When the cooler was repurposed as a jardiniere a detachable rim was made, along with a base metal liner and flower arranger’s grid. The shaped oval rim is applied with scrolls and foliage; the liner is seamed and applied with two ring handles (one missing), and the grid is made of twisted wires soldered to form a lattice pattern. Heraldry: The arms and crest are those of BRUCE, as used by Sir Henry Hervey Bruce. (Arms: on a saltire Gules a harp Argent, on a chief of the 2nd on a canton overall Argent a lion rampant Azur; crest: lion passant Azure holding in his dexter paw a trefoil slipped Vert.) Hallmarks: Fully marked under the rim: EE/B/JW (Edward senior, Edward junior, John and William Barnard, for Edward Barnard & Sons*), lion passant (sterling), leopard’s head (London), G (1842/3), and monarch’s head; partially marked on the detachable plaques: EE/B/JW, lion passant, and monarch’s head; no marks on the detachable rim. * Arthur Grimwade: London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, London, 1990, p 52, no 575; and John Culme: The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914, Woodbridge, 1987, vol 1, pp 29-30 Scratch weight: None
Full description
Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, 3rd Baronet (1820-1907) was the eldest son of Sir James Bruce, 2nd Baronet (1788-1836), who had a long career as an officer in the Royal Horse Artillery, a regiment that fought in Peninsula War and at Waterloo. The regimental banners on the cooler record that the Life Guards, Sir Henry’s regiment, were at the same campaigns (they led the charge at Waterloo). Sir Henry's military career was short, possibly because of his father's death and a need to return home to manage his family’s affairs when he turned twenty-one in 1841. He was an Irish Conservative politician, becoming the Member of Parliament for Coleraine from 1862 to 1874, and from 1880 to 1885. Lord Fairhaven was proud to have served in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards from 1916 to 1924; and enjoyed its old and distinguished history as the most senior regiment of the British Army. They were originally formed from the gentlemen who served King Charles II’s court-in-exile in the Netherlands. On the King’s restoration in 1660 they became his bodyguard. In 1925 Lord Fairhaven was painted by Sir Oswald Birley, RA, in the Life Guards’ ceremonial uniform (see 515485). That same year he published The Dress of the First Regiment of Life Guards in Three Hundred Years (see 3085732). It is not known when or how he acquired the wine cooler, but owning the 3rd Baronet’s gift to the officers’ mess would have pleased him. Jane Ewart, 2025 Heraldry by Gale Glynn
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, the Fairhaven Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Edward Barnard & Sons, goldsmith