Pair of verrières
Verrières were used to cool wineglasses by immersing them in ice water. The foot of the inverted glass rested outside the notches of the verrière's rim. The low, oval, French form of verrière was usual in the second half of the eighteenth century. This form evolved from the monteith, the original deep, round bowl with notched rim that appeared in England in the 1680s.
Verrières were often made in porcelain and silver as part of dinner services and were more common on the Continent than in England. Our pair in Sheffield plate is particularly rare. The style is that of Neoclassical, Greek-taste silver works of the 1770s and 1780s, with rams' heads supporting the ring handles. Although the silver plating is substantial and the pieces are very well made, they were not marked by the manufacturer, a practice usually followed voluntarily by the makers of Sheffield plate in emulation of the marks legally imposed on gold- and silversmiths.
The arms engraved on the rim are those of John Sawbridge, Lord Mayor (1775–76) and four-time member of Parliament for the City of London, and his wife, Anne. Because a love knot rather than a crest is placed above the shield, these verrières were probably made for the Lady Mayoress.
Verrières were often made in porcelain and silver as part of dinner services and were more common on the Continent than in England. Our pair in Sheffield plate is particularly rare. The style is that of Neoclassical, Greek-taste silver works of the 1770s and 1780s, with rams' heads supporting the ring handles. Although the silver plating is substantial and the pieces are very well made, they were not marked by the manufacturer, a practice usually followed voluntarily by the makers of Sheffield plate in emulation of the marks legally imposed on gold- and silversmiths.
The arms engraved on the rim are those of John Sawbridge, Lord Mayor (1775–76) and four-time member of Parliament for the City of London, and his wife, Anne. Because a love knot rather than a crest is placed above the shield, these verrières were probably made for the Lady Mayoress.
Artwork Details
- Title: Pair of verrières
- Date: ca. 1775
- Culture: British
- Medium: Sheffield plate
- Dimensions: each: 5 3/4 × 11 1/4 in. (14.6 × 28.6 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Silverplate
- Credit Line: Purchase, Mrs. Sid R. Bass Gift, in honor of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1995
- Object Number: 1995.50.1, .2
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
1700
William Lukin I (British, active 1699– ca.1755)
1716/17
Lewis Mettayer (British, active 1700–died 1740)
1709–10
Room after a design by Robert Adam (British, Kirkcaldy, Scotland 1728–1792 London)
1763–71
I N (British, active mid-late 17th century)
1675/76
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.