LARGE GILT-EDGED FLASK-CARRYING TROLLEY AND EWER Silversmiths Stephen Smith & Son and Smith & William Nicholson London, 1861 and 1867 On four wheels, composed of two cut crystal flasks known as "Claret jugs", mounted in vermeil, with a garland of grapefruits at the mid-point of the body, echoing the vermeil ewer, standing on a pedestal, surrounded on either side by a winged putto holding a cup and a branch of grapefruits or a putto holding a sickle and a sheaf of wheat. On one side of the tray, the coat of arms of the "Distiller's company" of London with the motto "DROP AS RAIN DISTIL AS DEW"; on the other side, a shield with a coat of arms surmounted by a crest (perhaps those of the Smith family of Suffolk) with the motto "FIRMUM IN VITA NIHIL"; minor accidents and missing parts. Marks: Goldsmiths Stephen Smith & Son, London, 1861 Smith & William Nicholson, London, 1867 H. (bottles): 31 cm (12 ¼ in.) H. (ewer): 33 cm (13 in.) Dimensions (trolley): H. (with flasks) : 44,5 cm (17 ½ in.) L. : 60 cm (23 ½ in.) Gross weight (trolley alone) : approx. 3 Kg 400 Gross weight (with bottles) : 6 Kg 979 An important silver-gilt bottle and ewer armoriaal trolley, by Stephen Smith & Son and Smith & William Nicholson, London, 1861 and 1867, with the coat-of-arms of the Distiller's company of London and possibly those of the Smith family of Suffolk Claret is a Bordeaux wine. We would like to thank Philippe Palasi for his help in identifying the coat of arms. *Information for buyers: Lot from outside the EU: The hammer price is exclusive of VAT. VAT at the reduced rate of 5.5% applies to the hammer price. This VAT is recoverable for French professionals. It is reimbursable for a buyer from outside the EU on presentation of proof of export from the EU or for a professional bidder providing proof of an intra-Community VAT number and a document proving delivery in the Member State. *Information to the buyers : Lot from outside the EU : The hammer price and premium will be VAT excluded. 5.5% VAT will be added to the hammer price and premium. Upon request, this VAT can be refunded to the purchaser on presentation of written proof of exportation outside EU, or to the EU purchaser who will submit his intracommunity VAT number and a proof of shipment to an EU country.