Crystal and silver pieces

At least I think they're crystal but not sure. Don't think it's sterling, can't find any marks either. Maybe not looking hard enough. Silver looks handmade, handles aren't perfectly straight plus they don't match absolutely perfectly. Picture looks like a guy on a horse about ready to slay something. Any idea on age or where to look for a mark ? What was kept in them? I'm guessing wine?

 

I believe these would be Claret jugs, although, I have never understood why Claret specifically and not other types of wine would be decanted in this manner.

 

Wish you would show the entire scene on the bodies. From what I can see, looks like it could be a version of this:



but I really can't tell.

 

@Bronwen.....not sure how much you can tell from this, but it sure looks like it....I flipped the image backwards to see in the same direction.....

 

The statue is closer I'd say. The rider does have their hair in a bun style or a round little hat and also using a spear instead of an ax.

 

It's the cameo that took some liberties by making it clearer who she is by giving her the traditional axe of an Amazon. She wears a Phrygian cap. I don't have a side view of the sculpture, so substituted the cameo.

 

A more side view:



The artist finished the design in 1839 but it was not cast in bronze until 1929. I don't know if models were displayed in the intervening years or if the public did not see it until it was cast. Hard to know what this means for the age of the jugs, other than that they cannot be earlier than 1839.

 

Took the color out.....LOVE your cameo AND @dcfirebottle's silver pieces!!!!

 

Claret was all the rage around 1880-1910 or so, these are pretty typical

 

This appears to be as the sculpture would look from the Amazon's left side, where the horse's head would be covering that of the panther. A better photo could resolve the uncertainty.

This is the first time I have seen this image used for decoration, but have never gone looking for anything other than cameos, where it used to come along regularly.

 

Hard to get good pic's on these pieces.

 

No doubt that's it. Sculpture is by August Kiss, German. Sculpture was finally cast in Philadelphia. Think model must have been exhibited posthumously for Philadelphia to have known about it. Can't say if there's info here about where the jugs were made.

Strange pairing of an Amazon attacked by a panther with the little boy on the lid.

 

Claret jugs had a tube inside to cool the wine without diluting it.

 

What kind of sound does the glass make when you tap it with a fingernail? Crystal has a distinct "ring" to it while glass is more of a dull thunk. I'm not sure if the crystal ring would be compromised by the tops, though...

 

What would be the proper term for these?

 

I have only seen ice tube not sure if that is it.

 

Oh, sorry, ambiguous. I meant, if they're not claret jugs in OP's post, what would be a more accurate word for them?

 

Not any antique claret jugs that I've ever owned or sold ...and I've had quite a few over the years.

 

Yes, I've never seen them with tubes inside, either. And to me, too, these are most definitely claret jugs. they have a long history of use--especially in England.