Fine And Substantial Victorian Silver Plate Wine Cooler

A Victorian silver fluted wine cooler, by Benjamin Smith II, London, 1837. Of bell-shaped form with a fluted body and flared rim, on a holly leaf base, with naturalistic split vine/branch handles. In very good condition. Benjamin Smith Benjamin Smith II, London silversmith. Born in Birmingham, born 15 December 1764, first married 1788. Grimwade records the first mention of Benjamin Smith through a third party recommendation as 'an ingenious hunter' in 1790 to Matthew Boulton in Birmingham. By September 1792 the firm of Boulton and Smith, manufacturers of latches, was in existence. In 1801 Benjamin withdrew from the partnership and moved to London. On 1 February 1802 Benjamin married a second time to Mary Shiers at Greenwich Church and presumably set up the workshop there. First mark, in partnership with Digby Scott, 4 October 1802. Second mark together, 21 March 1803. The partnership appears to have been dissolved on 11 May 1807, when Smith entered a third mark separately. Fourth mark, 25 June 1807. Fifth mark in partnership with his brother James 1809. Sixth mark separately, 1812. Seventh mark, 1814. Eighth mark in partnership with his son Benjamin, 1816. Ninth mark alone again, 1818. By his first marriage Smith had four sons, of whom Benjamin was the eldest, and three daughters, and by Mary Shiers a fourth daughter in 1803 at Greenwich. His third son Digby, born 2 June 1797, may be supposed to be Digby Scott's godson. It seems that Smith was of a difficult and probably irascible nature, as is shown by the variations in his entry of marks with and without partners. His firm, with Storr, of course manufactured almost entirely for Rundell and Bridge, and it seems that the latter was able to support Smith's move to London. The firm's most important production is probably the Jamaica service of 1803 in the Royal Collection. The silver-gilt trays, baskets and coasters with openwork vine borders are among the most distinctive and accomplished of these. The designs, so closely related to those of Storr, almost certainly came under central control at Rundell and Bridge. Measurements: 26cm high, 24cm diameter on the fluted top, 18cm internal width. Very little or no wear to the silver metal (I can't see any). Possibly lacking a liner but very serviceable and impressive as is.