An exceptionally rare and important pair of George III sterling silver wine coasters (or bottle stands) by the esteemed London silversmith Francis Spilsbury II, dated 1768. This pair represents the pinnacle of early Neo-Classical design, featuring a highly sought-after architectural form supported by three elegant pierced cabriole legs—a rare variation from the standard flat-based coasters of the period.
The bodies exhibit masterful, hand-pierced fretwork in a sophisticated floral and geometric motif. Centrally featured within an ornate cartouche is the engraved crest of the Hoare family, the legendary London banking dynasty. The double-headed eagle displayed on a heraldic wreath identifies these as a prestigious commission from one of Britain’s most influential financial families during the height of the Enlightenment.
Each coaster retains its original turned mahogany base and central silver boss. The hallmarks are remarkably crisp and well-struck, showing the lion passant, the crowned leopard's head of the London Assay Office, and the lowercase gothic 'n' for 1768. Combined with the short working window of Spilsbury II before his transition into medicine, these coasters are museum-quality specimens of 18th-century "banking silver" with impeccable provenance and craftsmanship.
Size: 4.75” D x 4” H
1768, London
An exceptionally rare and important pair of George III sterling silver wine coasters (or bottle stands) by the esteemed London silversmith Francis Spilsbury II, dated 1768. This pair represents the pinnacle of early Neo-Classical design, featuring a highly sought-after architectural form supported by three elegant pierced cabriole legs—a rare variation from the standard flat-based coasters of the period.
The bodies exhibit masterful, hand-pierced fretwork in a sophisticated floral and geometric motif. Centrally featured within an ornate cartouche is the engraved crest of the Hoare family, the legendary London banking dynasty. The double-headed eagle displayed on a heraldic wreath identifies these as a prestigious commission from one of Britain’s most influential financial families during the height of the Enlightenment.
Each coaster retains its original turned mahogany base and central silver boss. The hallmarks are remarkably crisp and well-struck, showing the lion passant, the crowned leopard's head of the London Assay Office, and the lowercase gothic 'n' for 1768. Combined with the short working window of Spilsbury II before his transition into medicine, these coasters are museum-quality specimens of 18th-century "banking silver" with impeccable provenance and craftsmanship.
Size: 4.75” D x 4” H
1768, London
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