DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century exceptional Victorian solid silver figural wine ewer on stand, extremely large and decorative, the body profusely chased and embossed on either side with a scenes of Galatea and attendants, an inverted fluted column neck, domed hinged cover adorned with a conch-blowing Triton, the shaped stand with two similar Triton's and bold scroll borders. The story of Galatea and the king Pygmalion, who is made into a sculptor and fell in love with an ivory statue (Galatea) he had crafted with his own hands. In answer to his prayers, the goddess Venus, ([Aphrodite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite)) brought it to life and united the couple in marriage.

The jugs cartooche with a later inscription 'Presented to the cinematography exhibitors association of Great Britain and Ireland by Sir William Jury 1935'. The cinema industry in the UK was fairly well established by 1900's, with over 3,000 cinemas. It was, however, a fragmented industry that had sprouted up quickly, and in the early days the thousands employed were on relatively low pay, even by the standards of the time. By the 1920s, employers and philanthropists recognised the need to deal with the social conditions and sometimes desperate situations that cinema employees were facing.

One of the first donors was cinema pioneer Sir William Jury, who not only made an early contribution to the Fund of £1,000, but in 1935 bought Glebelands, a large country house in Berkshire - for the Fund to use as a rest and convalescent home, where more than likely this ewer was proudly displayed.

Hallmarked English Silver (925 Standard), London, year 1861 (f), Stand by Maker EB & JB (Edward & John Barnard), Ewer by Maker S.S W.N (Stephen Smith & William Nicholson), undoubtedly the set was commissioned and created in collaboration by these two well established Victorian firms.

CONDITION

In Excellent Condition - No Damage.

SIZE

Height: 65cm
Width: 40 x 30cm
Weight: 4520g

REFERENCE NUMBER: A5232