International Silver Co. Lord Saybrook Pattern Silver-Plated Wine Cooler
Hollowware (Wine Cooler/Ice Bucket) · International Silver Company, founded in 1898 in Meriden, Connecticut. It was a conglomerate of various New England silversmiths and became the largest silver manufacturer in the world during the early 20th century.
Pattern: Lord Saybrook, introduced in the mid-20th century (approx. 1940s). It is a classic American Federal-revival pattern noted for its floral chased borders and urn-like forms.
Type
Hollowware (Wine Cooler/Ice Bucket)
Maker
International Silver Company, founded in 1898 in Meriden, Connecticut. It was a conglomerate of various New England silversmiths and became the largest silver manufacturer in the world during the early 20th century.
Material
Silver Plate (EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver). The base metal is likely a copper-nickel-zinc alloy, electroplated with a thin layer of fine silver.
Dimensions
Approximately 10 inches in height and 9 inches in diameter at the rim. Estimated weight is 1.5 - 2.0 kg due to the heavy gauge base metal used in high-quality hollowware.
Description
This Lord Saybrook wine cooler by International Silver Co. is a quintessential example of mid-century American entertaining elegance. Its urn-shaped body features a sophisticated flared rim adorned with a thick, floral-patterned border. The handles are robust and ornately detailed, providing a contrast to the clean, polished lines of the cooling vessel. It serves as both a functional barware piece and a significant decorative centerpiece.
Key Features
The signature Lord Saybrook floral rim, the distinctive bulbous lower body 'step', and the high-relief acanthus scroll handles.
Material & Composition
Silver Plate (EPNS - Electroplated Nickel Silver). The base metal is likely a copper-nickel-zinc alloy, electroplated with a thin layer of fine silver.
Finish & Decoration
Satin and mirror-polished finish with cast floral repoussé borders on the rim. The handles feature scrolled acanthus leaf patterns. The style is a blend of Neo-Classical and Late Victorian aesthetics known as the Federal Revival style.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Likely stamped on the underside with 'International Silver Co.', 'Lord Saybrook', and the pattern number (frequently 2201). It may include the 'IS' logo. No sterling '925' mark is present as this is a plated piece.
Construction Details
Machine-spun body with mass-produced cast handles and rim borders that have been soldered to the main urn. The base is weighted for stability.
Functional Features
Double-handled design for transport; flared rim to accommodate ice overflow and ease of bottle insertion; insulated construction common to mid-century ice buckets.
Handle & Grip Details
Two cast silver-plated C-shaped handles with acanthus leaf thumb grips, soldered to the bulbous lower portion of the body.
Craftsmanship Details
Displays high-quality industrial craftsmanship with clean solder joints at the handles and rim, though it lacks the hand-chased finesse of bespoke 19th-century silversmithing.
Authentication Indicators
Pattern recognition of the Lord Saybrook rim; characteristic International Silver construction methods; wear patterns consistent with mid-range silver plate rather than solid sterling.
Origin & Manufacturing
Meriden, Connecticut, USA. Manufactured in a factory setting utilizing industrial electroplating and metal spinning techniques.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Period (c. 1940-1960), specifically following the American Federal Revival movement which modernized traditional 18th-century silhouettes.
Age Estimate
Circa 1945-1955. The style of the casting and the specific 'Lord Saybrook' line were highly popular in the post-WWII American suburban boom.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the formalization of home entertaining in 20th-century America, where a full silver service, including wine coolers, was a status symbol of a well-appointed household.
Condition Notes
The item shows significant heavy tarnish (sulfide oxidation) and 'cloudiness' in the finish. There appear to be some surface scratches and potential 'bleeding' (where the base metal shows through the silver plate) on the lower body. Overall condition: Good (requires professional polishing).
Value Estimate
$75 - $150 USD. While well-made, silver-plated hollowware lacks the melt value of sterling; its value resides in its utility and decorative appeal for vintage barware collectors.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a non-abrasive silver cream (like Wright's) and a soft cotton cloth. Avoid 'silver dips' which can strip the thin plating. Store in a tarnish-preventative cloth bag.
Similar Pieces
Gorham 'Puritan' wine coolers (more minimalist), Reed & Barton 'Winthrop' (more ornate), or Sheridan silver-plated coolers (often heavier but lower detail).
Interesting Facts
The Lord Saybrook pattern was often marketed as an 'attainable luxury' for the American middle class, designed to look like heavy English sterling from the late 1700s while remaining affordable.