A very fine Regency sterling silver wine cooler by Paul Storr (1771-1844)

London, dated 1814

Fully hallmarked. Height 28 cm.

The inspiration for the wine cooler's shape appears to be the Borghese Vase, a Greek 'crater' which inspired a new shape for wine coolers, vases etc.

HUNT  AND ROSKELL,  ENGLISH  FOUNDED IN  1819  

BY PAUL STORR  (I771- 1844).

A visitor to Hunt and Roskell s workshop in Harrison Street, London described the firm

" ranking as the very highest of the class-not alone for the beauty of their workmanship, but for the eiquisitely artistic taste, as well as for the consummate care and thoughtfulness displayed in their designs". (Trades and Manufactories of Great Britain. 1865). For most of the Nineteenth Century the firm ranked as London’s leading silver and jewellery manufacturer, rivalled only by R. and S. Garrard and Co.  and C. F.   Hancock  Hunt and Roskell produced high class domestic silver but like Garrard's specialised in massive sculptural trophies, centre pieces and presentation plate Hunt and Roskell was founded by Paul Storr. who on dissolving his partnership with Rundell and Bridge. 1819 set up a workshop in Harrison Street, assisted by his nephew John Samuel Hunt (d 1865). 

In 1822 Storr entered partnership with Joho Mortimer trading under the name of Storr and Mortimer (1S22-38I The latter ran the retail business from Bond Street while Storr continued to look after the manufacturing side However by 1826. overstocking on Mortimer s behalf took the firm to the edge of bankruptcy, it was saved by a £5.000 investment from J. S.  Hunt. The latter became a partner though the firm continued in the name of Storr and Mortimer On Storr’s retirement John Samuel s son, John Hunt (c 1811-1879) joined the partnership and the firm was renamed Mortimer and Hunt (1839-13). Mortimer retired in 1813 whereupon the Hunts look Robert Roskell of Liverpool (d 1888) and C. F.  Hancock (who left in 1819) into partnership and were known as Hunt and Roskell, 1813-97.  After John Hunts death. 1879 the firm was run by his son, John Mortimer Hunt. Robert Roskell and his son Allan In 1889 Alfred Benson purchased the business, it was made a Limited Company in 1897 and known as Hunt and Roskell Ltd.  until c. 1965.

In many ways Hunt and Roskell were similar to Rundell's , firstly in their use of naturalistic ornament and secondly in their creation of elaborate sculptural silver. During his association with Rundell’s Storr bad executed designs in the neo-classic rococo and baroque with equal fluency  Hunt and Roskell exemplified the increasing desire for naturalistic ornament derived from the same source - from the classic acanthus to the floral rococo Following the dissolution of Run- dell's in 1842. Roskells and Garrard s became the most important manufacturers of sculptural and presentation silver. Such pieces relied upon a high degree of figurative realism for their success, to achieve this, modellers at Hunt and Roskell worked directly from the nude The firm employed some of the finest modellers and designers, notably from 1843 the French metal worker, Antoine Vechte (1800 - 1868 ) who designed the Titan Vase (Goldsmith s Co , London), displayed at the Great Exhibition, 1851   Among the firm's earliest designers was Edward Hodges Baily (1788-1867), who as assistant to John Flaxman (1755-1826) had worked for Storr and Co  and for Rundell's. Frank Howard (1805-66) pupil and assistant to the court painter. Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1839) subsequently joined Storr and Mortimer While another portraitist. Sir George Rayler (1792-1871) designed Hunt and Roskells Montifiore Testimonial. 1842 The firm contributed important displays of silver and jewellery at a number of international exhibitions. notably the Great Exhibition. 1851, the International of 1862. Pans. 1867. London, 1872 and the Health Exhibition of 1884.