A pair of George III sterling silver wine coolers
John Mewburn, liners with makers mark of Benjamin Laver, London
1798
Collars engraved with crest and motto, sides engraved with coat-of-arms, crest and motto, undersides with scratch weights No 1 51"0 and No 2 50"10.
height 8in (20cm); width 8 3/4in (22.2cm); depth 7 1/4in (18.5cm); total weight approximately 99oz troy
Provenance:
Sold Christies, New York, 29 April 1997, lot 164.

Footnote: The arms as engraved are those of a branch of the family of Drummond.

These arms undoubtedly pertain to a gentleman who was a scion of the Scottish family of originally Drummond of Concraig and of Lennoch and later of Megginch all in the County of Perthshire. Given the date of manufacture of this pair of wine coolers, upon the balance of probability and without any evidence to the contrary there is one credible candidate for the ownership of sameand that individual is Vice Admiral Sir Adam Drummond (born 14th August 1770 died 3rd May 1849). He was a member of the Baronial House of Drummond of Lennoch and of Megginch and was the third son of Colin Drummond and his wife, Katherine Oliphant of Rossie. Sir Adam succeeded his brother, Robert Drummond of Megginch, the 6th of Megginch (born 1759 died 1815) in the family estates which included the family seat of Megginch Castle, near Errol in the County of Perthshire, the castle being the caput of the feudal barony of Megginch.

Upon Roberts death Sir Adam took the style Drummond of Megginch, being the seventh of that baronial house. Sir Adam married Lady Charlotte Menzies (born 1775 died 31 May 1832), the eldest daughter of John Murray, the 4th Duke of Atholl and his wife The Honourable Jane Cathcart and widow of Sir John Menzies, the 4th Baronet of Castle Menzies in the County of Perthshire on the 28th May 1801.

Sir Adam was nominated as Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order (KCH) on the 1st January 1837 and later that year received the accolade as a Knight Bachelor on the 1st March. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Perthshire.

General marks, dings, dents, scratches, rubbing, tarnishing and wear commensurate with age and use. Collars, liners and coolers fully marked. Rubbing to marks on collars and coolers particularly. One cooler with collar slightly warped - difficult to straighten on liner. Would benefit from adjustment. Softening to detail of decoration. Possibly old repairs to handles of one. Old scratch weights to undersides.