Antique Victorian Acid Etched Glass & Sterling Silver Gilt Claret Jug 1875

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English acid etched glass and sterling silver gilt claret jug; an addition to our wine and drinks related silverware collection. This magnificent antique Victorian glass and sterling silver gilt claret jug has an ovoid ewer shaped form. The plain waisted neck is embellished with a fine and impressive cast and applied strapwork encased Bacchus mask ornamentation below the flared pouring lip. The upper shaped rim is ornamented with a chased decorated leaf border. The glass body of this antique claret jug is embellished with fine and impressive acid etched foliate, grape clusters and tendril ornamentation incorporating a central bordered vacant portion accented with mask ornamentation to the upper portion. The glass vessel is subdivided into three framed portions by fine and impressive chased husk decorated straps terminating to the upper portions with further cast and applied mask ornamentations. The upper and lower sterling silver portions of the body are embellished with fine and impressive bright cut engraved interlacing fruiting vine designs and plain scalloped rims. This magnificent jug is fitted with an exceptional, fine and impressive cast sterling silver opposing scroll handle embellished to the upper portion with a substantial figural ornament depicting Venus arching elegantly and resolutely backwards to feed cupid from a grape cluster. The lower portion of the handle is ornamented with bead decoration to an impressive chased decorated volute scrolling leaf terminal. The glass vessel is fitted to a rounded shaped receiver to a fine and impressive chased decorated lobed and ribbed knop and circular domed spreading foot. The foot is ornamented a broad band of chased diaper pattern and bead decoration incorporating three mask designs; the masks are identical to those on the straps. This impressive antique claret jug retains the original cork stopper fitted with the original cylindrical hallmarked sterling silver mount and bead decorated finial/handle. The surface of this antique claret jug and stopper retain the original gilding. This magnificent claret jug is of the highest quality and in exceptional presentation condition; this jug is one of the finest examples of its type you could hope to acquire.