George III Antique Silver Wine Funnel

Object Description

An elegant antique silver wine strainer with a broad reed border and simple shaped thumb piece. Excellent classic plain style. There is a hand engraved arm crest to the front. Good weight and colour.

Weight 161 grams, 5.1 troy oz.
Length 14.5cm.
Diameter 7.6cm.
London 1810.
Maker Samuel Whitford & George Pizey.
Sterling silver

Marks. Stamped on both pieces with a full set of clear and matching English silver hallmarks.

Maker: Samuel Whitford II

Samuel Whitford II, no record of apprenticeship or freedom. First mark entered as plateworker 1800. 2nd mark in partnership with George Whitford 1802. 3rd mark (2 sizes) in 1807. 4th mark in partnership with George Pizey 1810. 5th mark alone (2 sizes) 1812. 6th mark 1817. 7th mark 1817.

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Object Literature

The wine funnel became common towards the end of the 18th century; a few rare earlier examples exist. With the modern wine making methods wine funnels are generally used just for decanting wine however in olden times the wine needed to be filtered before drinking it. The pierced platform is not normally sufficient to strain the wine properly and needs a piece of muslin fitted between the pierced section and the spout. There are two main varieties: the first has a spout which detaches just below the bowl of the funnel, the other has a detachable inner bowl with a pierced centre inside the main bowl. Occasionally there is a further detachable ring which held the muslin firmly. Funnels exist without a pierced strainer and were probably used to decant liquor or possibly perfume; these are normally smaller in size.

Object Condition

This excellent silver wine funnel is in very good condition. Shows moderate signs of wear commensurate with age.

Object Details