John Bridge

An Important Pair of George IV Marine Inspired Wine Coasters

London 1827

Maker’s Mark of John Bridge

Diameter 6.5in

Weight: 42.8oz (1331gr)

Provenance

Crest of the Rhinelander Stewart family

This is a highly important and almost certainly unique pair of wine coasters made in London in 1827 by John Bridge, partner of the greatest retailers and jewellers of the 19th century Rundell Bridge & Rundell. This pair of wine coasters have been made to the very highest quality with absolutely no expense spared. The sides of the coaster are made in an incredible marine inspired naturalistic manner which was the height of fashion at the end of the 1820s. The walls of the coasters are very reminiscent of coral which is a design I have never seen before in wine coasters. Each coaster weighs (including the wooden bases) over 20oz each which is extremely heavy for a wine coaster which just shows their quality. Just above the base of the wine coaster is a very small band of cast grape and vine decoration which is very discrete but also of the finest quality.Marine themed silver was at the height of fashion during the 1820s but examples of marine inspired wine coasters are almost non existent especially of this quality.

What makes these coasters even more interesting is that they bear the crest of William Rhinelander Stewart who was an extremely successful and prominent New York business person in the second half of the 19th century. He was born in 1852 so its likely he must have purchased them, most probably in London, in the late 19th century when he was, by this point, exceedingly wealthy and would have had his crest engraved at the time.

Overall these are truly exceptional wine coasters in every way. They are made by one of the finest firms, they have been made to the very highest quality, they are an incredibly elegant & almost certainly unique design and have the most interesting provenance.

Provenance - Rhinelander Stewart family

This magnificent pair of wine coasters bear the engraved crest to the centre of William Rhinelander Stewart (1852-1929). Rhinelander Stewart was an extremely successful and prominent New York City businessman and philanthropist.

His son, also William, was born in New York City and graduated from Harvard (1911). He was the brother of the Princess de Braganza and when their mother died in 1925 they each inherited slightly over $13 million. From his father, he inherited vast real estate holdings in New York and as such he was Director of the Rhinelander Real Estate Co. However, his "office job" for 25-years was with John C. Paige & Co., Insurance Brokers, of which he was Vice-President and a Director. He was a Director of Metropolitan Playhouse Inc., and of the Skoularis Theaters; Governor of the Central Park Casino; and, Vice-President of the Hotel Pierre at 2 East 61st Street, where he lived.

He is best remembered as "the best-dressed man in New York City," "the most attractive man in New York" and "the Beau Brummell ideal of the 20th Century". Described as, "one of the most conspicuous men in American society.