The von Engeström wine coolers
Swedish silver wine coolers from the 18th century are extremely rare. The most closely comparable pair to the auction pair are the famous Piper wine coolers. The auction's exquisite pair of Gustavian wine coolers were made in Stockholm in 1793 by the prominent goldsmith Pehr Zethelius (1740–1810), who is considered one of Sweden's foremost goldsmiths of all time.
The wine coolers are designed with a round bowl on a foot and are adorned with finely engraved decoration with leaf scrolls and the von Engeström family coat of arms. On the sides are decorative satyr heads adorned with bunches of grapes and leaves, where the elegantly shaped horns form the handles themselves. The classic design and the detailed ornaments are typical of the Gustavian style's balance between antique inspiration and refined elegance.
Provenance:
Who within the von Engeström family ordered these cannot be identified with certainty, a likely candidate is the Mountain Councilor for the Swedish Board of Mines, Adolf von Engeström (1753-1825). His estate inventory only lists silver in an item totaling 1280 lod/loth (which corresponds to about 16.8 kg).
According to information purchased at auction at Svanå manor in Västmanland and then inherited within the family through three generations.