A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
an article of Giorgio Busetto - www.silvercollection.it
for ASCAS - Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver		 a small collection of antique silver and objects of vertu
 
click on images to enlarge

AN UNUSUAL ITEM
THE GEORGIAN SILVER WINE FUNNEL

Wine funnels, also called wine strainers, were used to decant to the bottle and from the bottle to the decanter.
Most wine funnels date from between 1770 and 1830, even if few examples of George II period are surviving. The use of wine funnel declined during the Victorian Reign.

Wine funnels are in one or in two pieces

one piece wine funnel with removable pierced strainerpierced strainer with small chainpierced strainer with small chain

The one piece wine funnel has a removable pierced strainer, usually joined to the body by a small chain.

The two pieces wine funnels have

pierced bowl and a body of a two pieces wine funnel
a pierced bowl and a body to contain it

or

removable spout applied to the strainer
a removable spout to apply to the strainer
removable inner ring retaining a muslin straining cloth
Alternatively the bowl may include a removable inner ring to retain a muslin straining cloth
funnel with plain or reeded rim
Examples offunnel with plain or reeded rim wine funnels made from 1770s and 1790s are usually plain or have a reeded rim

wine funnel with wide applied foliate rim
while laterwide applied foliate rim wine funnels are more elaborately decorated and have wider applied foliate rims.
curved end of the spout
The end ofcurved end of the spout the spout is usually curved so that the wine would flow down the side of the bottle

small hook on the sideOften there's a small hook on the sidesmall hook on the side
wine funnel on the stand
Sometimes wine funnelswine funnel and stand had a stand with domed centre and short legs

The interior of the bowl was sometimes gilded.

wine funnel modifications
At the present wine funnels are highly appreciated by collectors, but in the second half of 19th century they were often modified obtaining objects of more common use.
Cutting the spout the bowl was transformed into a tea strainer and closing the bottom into a sugar bowl or a salt cellar. Substituting the spout with a pedestal a cup was obtained and adding a low stem and a spout a milk creamer.


 

A FEMALE SILVERSMITH'S WINE FUNNEL

This George III silver wine funnel was made in London by silversmiths Rebecca Emes and Edward Barnard, circa 1815. The wine funnel is in two parts, the bowl (strainer) and the main body with curved end of the spout.
The bowl has gadrooned rim with a small shell on the side.
The body has an engraved family crest in the shape of a lion with shield.
The bowl is hallmarked RE over EB (silversmiths), duty mark (George III) and lion passant (sterling silver).
The body is hallmaked lion passant, leopard's head crowned (London) and duty mark, while date letter is rubbed.
Rebecca Emes, widow of John Emes, was an important silversmith of Regency Period and supplier of the Royal Goldsmiths, Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, the same firm that retailed Paul Storr's silver. She registered its first hallmark with Edward Barnard in 1808 and was active until c. 1829.
This wine funnel is 5 in. high (cm. 12,5).
 
Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel
Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel
Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnelRebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel
Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard wine funnel Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard hallmarkfamily crest on wine funnel's body
Rebecca Emes Edward Barnard hallmark
Giorgio Busetto - © 2004 -
www.silvercollection.it
this article is published on website                               
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