Wine Cooler

Mack, Williams, and Gibton · Ireland · c. 1821

In the 18th century, open wine cisterns were replaced by covered wine coolers, which kept wine cold for a longer period of time. This example is based on Roman sarcophagi and has been given expressive form by the Dublin architect Francis Johnston. Made for Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley while serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, it was probably used in Dublin Castle, his official residence.

Medium

Mahogany, lead lining and brass hardware

Dimensions

73.1 × 108.6 × 64.8 cm (28 3/4 × 42 3/4 × 25 1/2 in.)

Accession

2015.456

Credit line

Richard T. Crane Jr. Memorial, Neville and John H. Bryan endowment funds; purchased with funds provided by L. Knife and Son Charitable Gift Fund; through prior gift of David Adler; European Decorative Arts General Fund; Kay and Frederick Krehbiel Endowment Fund; through prior bequests of Florence H. Crane and Eugene A. Davidson; through prior gifts of Caroline Wicker, the Antiquarian Society, and Mrs. Charles Netcher II