Substantially Good and Majestically Plain (Made To Endure): George Washington's Wine Cooler Sold At Christie's

GeorgeWashington's wine cooler presented to Alexander Hamilton, England, 1789.Estimate: $400,000-600,000. Sold for: $782,500. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd2011.

 

NEW YORK,NY.-

A Sheffield-platedsilver wine cooler, ordered by George Washington in 1789, and given toAlexander Hamilton in 1797, sold at Christie’s during Americana Week for$782,500, exceeding its estimate of $400,000-600,000. This four-bottle winecooler is an exceptionally well documented historical object, symbolizing thefamous partnership between Washington and Hamilton in the early days of therepublic. It was sold by direct descendants of Alexander Hamilton and bought byAmericana expert, Gary Hendershott.

     Jeanne Sloane, DeputyChairman, Head of Silver, comments, “We are thrilled with the result of thisunique piece of American history—the only three-dimensional object known toconnect Washington with Hamilton, his most important collaborator.”

   The four-bottle winecooler is one of four commissioned by George Washington in 1789 to be used forentertaining after dinner. Detailed correspondence between Washington and hisemissary, Gouvernor Morris, who was tasked with procuring objects to outfit thePresident’s House, describes the great level of forethought Washington devotedto creating an appropriate style for the new country.

   In response to Washington’s admonition to “avoid extravagance,”Morris wrote to Washington in 1790, “I think it of very great importance to fixthe Taste of our Country properly, and I think Your Example will go very far inthat respect. It is therefore my Wish that every Thing about you should be substantially good and majestically plain; made to endure.”

     Embodying this intentto be majestically plain, the elegant wine cooler is simply decorated withlion’s mask and ring handles. The choice of Sheffield-plated silver, a layeredcombination of silver and copper, instead of solid silver, emphasizes thefounding fathers’ preference for austerity.


 

Jean-Antoine Houdon,Portrait Bust of George Washington, 1785



    Washington’s fastidiousattention to detail is demonstrated in his letter to Morris where he specifiesthe design of the cooler, “with an allowance in the depth of it for ice atbottom so as to raise the neck of the decanter above the cooler…The reason whyI prefer an aperture for every decanter or bottle to coolers that would containtwo and four is that whether full or empty the bottles will always standupright and never be at variance with each other.” 

     An inventory written byWashington when his presidential term was through describes the silverwarebought by him and by the federal government. Of the four coolers that hepurchased, Washington took two to Mount Vernon, sold one, and he presented thefourth to Hamilton, underscoring the importance to Washington of their 22-yearrelationship.

    The letter thatWashington sent to Hamilton with the wine cooler was engraved on the object byHamilton’s descendants in the mid-19th century, thereby ensuring that itsremarkable history would never be lost.

    The inscription reads,“My dear Sir, Not for any intrinsic value the thing possesses, but as a tokenof my sincere regard and friendship for you, and as a remembrance of me, I prayyou to accept a wine cooler for four bottles. It is one of four which Iimported in the early part of my late administration of the Government, two ofwhich were ever used. I pray you to present my best wishes, in which Mrs.Washington joins me to Mrs. Hamilton, and the family, and that you would bepersuaded that with every sentiment of the highest regard, I remain yoursincere friend, and affectionate humble servant: Geo. Washington.”

  

A George III sealed winebottle, 1789, deep-green glass with string-rim and highbasal kick, seal moulded C.H.H Sillaton 1789, 8.75in.

NOTE: The wine cooler is so beautiful and its history is so interesting and affecting.  I thought ofsaving this to post on George Washington’s birthday, February 22^nd, which was also my brother’s,but couldn’t wait.  In any event, no oneremembers George Washington’s (orAbraham Lincoln’s) birthdays any longer. They’re just two former presidents lumped in with all the rest (e.g.,Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, James Buchanan) in our democratized Presidents Dayholiday/sale.  “Substantiallygood; majestically plain; made to endure.”  How superb and how marvelous to see thisaesthetic reflected in Washington’s inscription to Hamilton.  No GeorgeWashington wine bottle images could be obtained, so I’ve supplied another bottlefrom another George from the same vintage.  It reminds me alot of the final stage of the “evolution of the port bottle” display at Berry Bros. in London, which along with the crafting of ahand-beaten silver spoon exhibit in thewindow of James Robinson in New York, should be included in everyone’s life itinerary.