A Rare Victorian Silver-Plated and Cut-Glass Storer's Patent Perpetual Parlor Fountain, circa 1870-1880
Marks: STORER'S PATENT, B 12
19 inches high x 17-1/2 inches wide (48.3 x 44.5 cm)

The design of these parlor fountains were patented by Joseph Storer in England in 1870. Storer sold the American rights to James W. Tufts, who manufactured and advertised them from the 1870's-1890's. The silver-plated versions of these fountains are extremely rare, with other American and British manufacturers choosing to use glass globes. The fountains were commonly advertised as aromatherapy remedies for invalids, with manufacturers suggesting adding perfume or essential oils to cure "air sickness." The present example was likely manufactured by Tufts or by the English firm J. Defries & Sons.

The fountain surmounted by nozzle and cut-glass bowl, below to hourglass shaped frame embellished with beadwork, figural dragon mounts, scrolled foliage, and rosettes, conforming hourglass-shaped water tanks, two cut-glass bowls suspended on frames hanging from dragon's mouths, lower frame with exaggerated dragon mounts to sides of rocky base encasing round mirror.

Light dent and small patch of plate wear to water tanks, all components of the fountain are present but it has not been tested nor guaranteed to be in working order, small patch of resoldering evident along frame near upper bowl, residue to underside of largest glass bowl, scattered fleabiting and chipping to glass bowls, otherwise presenting well with surface scratches commensurate with age, polishing, and use.