Wine cooler (one of a pair)
1716/17
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 8 1/4 x 9 3/4 x 7 7/8 in., 121 oz. 18 dwt. (21 x 24.8 x 20 cm, 3.7915kg)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number
68.141.129
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver wine cooler, crafted by London silversmith William Lukin I in 1716/17, exemplifies the opulence of early Georgian Britain. One of a matching pair, it served a practical yet luxurious purpose: chilling wine bottles in ice during lavish dinners among the elite. Measuring about 8¼ x 9¾ x 7⅞ inches and weighing over 7 pounds, its substantial form underscores the era's emphasis on grandeur in domestic silverware. Lukin's mastery of silver techniques shines through in the piece's chased and embossed surfaces, likely adorned with a prominent coat of arms signifying its commissi...