A Splendid Pair of Georgian Pilgrim Flasks
Silver
George IV London, 1828
Maker's mark of John Bridge

Height: 17 5/8 in. (45.4 cm.)
Weight: 246 oz. 14 dwt. (7,673 gr.)

Stamped 'Rundell Bridge et Rundell Aurifices Regis Londini' with scratched inventory number '7528'

The arms are those of Neeld for Joseph Neeld (1789-1856) of Grittleton House, Wiltshire.
Provenance:
Joseph Neeld (1789-1856), great nephew of Philip Rundell, and by descent to
Lionel William Neeld Esq., of Grittleton House, Wiltshire, who succeeded to the estates of Sir Audley Dallas Neeld, 3rd and last Baronet on 2 April 1942.
L. W. Neeld, Jr., Grittleton, Wiltshire; Sotheby's, London, 11 February 1943, lot 49
Each slightly compressed lobed pear-shape and on spreading stepped foot, the lower body applied with foliage on a foliage chased and matted ground, the shoulder applied with female masks supporting later chains to the detachable foliage cast cover, engraved on each side with a coat-of-arms, marked on neck, cover bezel and some links, the foot further stamped 'Rundell Bridge et Rundell Aurifices Regis Londini' with scratched inventory number '7528'

The pear-shaped form of the pilgrim flask has its roots in the leather water flask carried by the pilgrim or traveller of the Middle Ages. Particularly grand flasks with fine cut-card work were produced in the late 17th and early 18th century. Contemporary prints, such as Martin Engelbrecht's representation of the great silver buffet in the Rittersaal at the Berliner Schloss, circa 1708, indicate that they were arranged on side buffets during formal banquets. When placed in wine cisterns, they also served to decant wine.

This pair of pilgrim-flasks was made for Joseph Neeld, great-nephew and heir to the Royal goldsmith, Philip Rundell. Upon Rundell's death in 1827, some £900,000 was left to Neeld, who in taking care of his cantankerous relation had "quitted, for his uncle's sake, a lucrative profession, in which his realizing a fortune was certain... and devoted himself wholly and absolutely to the care of Mr. Rundell for the last thirteen years of his life" (J. Culme, "A Devoted Attention to Business: An Obituary of Philip Rundell," Silver Society Journal, Winter 1991, pp. 91-102). Following Rundell's death, Neeld promptly purchased and enlarged an estate at Grittleton and indulged in his passion for sculpture. He commissioned numerous pieces from Edward Hodges Baily, who had served as a silver designer for his uncle's firm. Neeld acquired a large quantity of plate, including a pair of soup tureens; one, now gilt, is in the Campbell Museum, Camden, New Jersey, the other sold in these Christie's, New York 27 October 1992, lot 222