George III regency silver wine funnel

Particularly good example of a George III antique silver wine funnel. The large proportions and the curvature of the spout make it easy to use when decanting and filtering wine. This silver wine funnel is hand chased around the entire bowl and on part of the detachable funnel with attractive floral detail against a mottled background; all chasing in wonderful crisp condition. There are French gadroon borders on both sections and a cartouche on the bowl, within which is a family crest for the Tarleton family of Churchill, Lancashire; a leopard's face between two ostrich feathers arg.

This silver wine funnel bears full hallmarks on the upper section and part marks, as is correct, on the spout.

First appearing at the end of the 17th century, silver wine funnels were designed to decant wine from the bottle to a decanter for the table. The bowl was pierced with holes for catching larger pieces of detritus such as cork, while a retaining ring kept a piece of muslin straining cloth in place which filtered out finer sediment and prevented spoiling the wine in the decanter.

In the 18th century the spigot was crafted with a curved tip to ensure the wine ran gently down the wall of the decanter and, particularly for very fine or old wines, prevent bruising the wine.