Great Silver Wine Cistern of Thomas Wentworth, Lord Raby

Philip Rollos the Elder (circa 1660 - 1715)

Temple Newsam House

1705-1706

This enormous cistern formed part of Lord Raby's allowance of silver plate which he took with him as Ambassador Extraordinary to Berlin in 1706 and which he was entitled to retain after his return. Such objects were an essential component in the etiquette of formal dining in the baroque period when the display of impressive plate reflected the status and importance of the host (or, in the case of ambassadors, the country he represented). Their function (in addition to being impressive) was to hold ice-packed bottles for the service of wine. This object was undoubtedly inspired by German examples seen by Lord Raby in Berlin on an earlier visit in 1701. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

• Medium: silver
• Dimensions: 129.5 x 83cm
• Art Fund Grant: £140000 ( Total: £2,073,648; Tax Remission; Export stopped)
• ArtFunded in: 2011
• Vendor: Private collector

Provenance

Thomas Wentworth, 3rd Baron Raby of Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire; by descent to Marquess of Lothian; Sotheby's, 2010.

Add your comments about this artwork Hide this form

Have your say