DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century unique Victorian Electrotype monumental water jug, copy of the rare solid silver example dating to the 17th Century, the Tudor period.

Electrotypes are exact copies of metal objects, electroplated. The process was invented by the firm Elkington & Co in the 1840's. Henry Cole, first director of the South Kensington Museum (today Victoria & Albert Museum) grasped the educational potential of this new technique, and agreed with Elkington to take moulds of historic objects in museums in England and around the world.

The most ambitious trip, to Moscow and St-Petersburg in the 1880's, secured copies of over 200 items, including the exceptional one here for sale. The original of this jug is in the Kremlin, and would have formed part of an ambassadorial gift from the King of England to the Tsar of Russia.

The base bears the original cast stamp "Department of Science & Art, Elkington" and "VR crowned". The hinged lid also bears hand-written numbers, most probably a Museum's serial number (possibly the Victoria & Albert Museum's serial number: by 1920 the V&A held about 1000 electrotypes, later sold to the public and other museums.

CONDITION

In Great Condition - No Damage.

SIZE

Height: 63cm
Width: 39 x 25cm
Weight: 4530g

REFERENCE NUMBER: A5081