Marks Antiques Mayfair, London A LARGE PAIR OF VICTORIAN SILVER DECORATIVE EWERS JOHN WILMIN FIGG LONDON, 1838/39 representing Water and Wine, richly cast, each on a square pedestal base rising to vase-shaped bodies, both decorated in high relief, one with the triumph of Venus, the other with Bacchus and attendants, the lips respectively modelled as a triton grasping the head of a dolphin and a of a satyr holding a ram's mask by the horns, the bodies with small inscribed oval cartouches Height 54.5 cm, 12 1 / 2 in previous / home

John Wilmin Figg The inscriptions read: 'Edinburgh Gold Cup, / Won by Mr. James Hope's / "Lady Adelaide" / 4 years / Musselburgh / September 1884' J.W. Figg (1811-1886) was apprenticed in 1826 to the manufacturing silversmith William Elliott (1776?-1866), supplier to the celebrated retail goldsmith, Thomas Hamlet (1770-1853). After gaining his freedom in 1833, Figg and his business flourished for many years, and is now principally known for decorative items including several designs of mounted glass claret jugs. Figg was still in harness at the age of 70 when in 1881 he recorded in the Census that he employed four men and two boys. In addition to secular silver, Figg was also a manufacturer of church plate and as such the business was eventually absorbed by Walter Keith (b.1853), son and successor of John James Keith, specialist church furnishers and makers of brass lamp standards for St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.