George III silver argyle

George III silver argyle

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George III silver argyle (argyll) of the finest quality. This neoclassical urn-shaped jug has a delicate gadroon border and original armorials on the body and lid. The elegant and delicate design belies the substantial weight of the lovely piece, and the feature that sets it apart from almost any other argyle we have seen is the removable hot water container within. This novel feature allows the inside of the argyle to be cleaned easily after use. All sections are hallmarked: the body, the lid, the hot water container and cap, so we can be sure that all pieces are original.

It was John Campbell (1723-1806), the fifth Duke of Argyll, who hated the way that gravy arrived cold to his table from the kitchens of Inverary Castle, and who promoted a new piece of tableware designed to maintain the warmth of the gravy in its vessel. So, the argyle was born - a gravy warmer made in shapes similar to a covered coffee pot with a handle and spout. The gravy is kept warm by means of hot water contained in a compartment created by a double exterior wall, a compartment created by a false bottom or a central vertical cylindrical tube which holds a heated iron rod.

A secondary important feature was that the spout was placed at the bottom of the container which allowed the gravy to be drawn off from underneath the layer of fat that settled on the top.

Dimensions:

Height 205 mm / 8 12"
Width 195 mm / 8"
Weight 450 g (14.47 troy ozs)
Year

1799

Place

London

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