Antique English Ink, Quill & Pounce Bottles from 1792, The Rockefeller Sale

View Similar Items

David Wallace, Pearlescent Hand Crafted English Glass Perfume Bottle c1980s

Elegant Bronze Iridescent English Glass Perfume Bottle By Andrew Sanders c1980s

Honey Spiral Twist Stemmed, English Glass Perfume Bottle By Andrew Sanders c1980

Antique Charles Fields Haviland Limoges Porcelain Blossom Perfume Bottles, Pair

Early 1900s Antique Italian Crystal Green Yellow Layered Murano Glass Bottle

Set of 4 Eggshell Vases. From the Oygg series

Seo of 4 Eggshell Vases. From the Oygg series

1970s Painted Crystal Vase from the Kosta Wedding House

1950s Set of Three Crystal Bottles

English Tortoise Shell Desk Set with Ink Wells, Circa 1820

1970s French Hand Painted Gilded Porcelin Bottle

Pair of Decorative Metal Bottles with Decoration

1 of 16

Antique English Ink, Quill & Pounce Bottles from 1792, The Rockefeller Sale

About the Item

A set of three George III cut-glass bottles with sterling silver lids, made by English silversmith Henry Chawner of London and hallmarked for 1792. The antique set comes from The collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. The 18th century jars were crafted from colorless glass blown into a cylindrical form with cut flat and vertical facets terminating in double diamond diapering. A sterling silver flat cap with reeded edges and a pierced top fits over each silvered lip. The caps indicate the intended use for each bottle: the single centered hole is designed to hold a pen (a feathered quill), the lid with three holes is an inkwell, and the lid pierced with a pattern of quatrefoils is a pounce pot. The smaller holes of the pounce pot ensured only a small quantity of finely ground powder or bone was used to dry the ink. President George Washington used a Henry Chawner inkstand with slightly smaller bottles of this same design during his presidency. The inkstand and bottles remain in the collection of George Washington's Mount Vernon today. The set bears 16 hallmarks. Each silver lid and the silver ring around the base of one bottle bear Henry Chawner's "HC" makers mark; the sterling standard mark of the lion passant; the date letter "r" for 1792; and the Sovereign head (duty mark) of King George William Frederick certifying the payment of the duty. The 226-year-old set is in good condition with small cosmetic imperfections related to age and use. The silver shows a few nicks, scratches, and spots of old tarnish; the glass shows more wear including nicks and small fleabites around the facets and the bottom rim with scuffs and scratches on each of the bases. The jar intended to hold a quill has a kiss on the center base and a larger chip on the bottom. This is also the bottle that retains a removable sterling silver band that would have anchored the bottle to an inkstand. Each bottle stands 2.5 in. H. Provenance: The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller Single Owner Sale of June 2, 2018.

Creator:
Henry Chawner (Metalworker)
Dimensions:
Height: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)Diameter: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 3
Style:
George III (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Cut Glass,Sterling Silver,Faceted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Late 18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1792
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: AHK1603MA1stDibs: LU1892311583303