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Lot Essay
The arms are those of Richard Fountayne Wilson of Melton Park, Yorkshire (1783-1847), son of Richard Wilson of Rudding Hall, Yorkshire by Elizabeth, daughter and eventual heir of the Very Rev. John Fountayne, Dean of York by Anne, only daughter of Chares Montagu of Papplewick. Richard Fountayne Wilson served as M.P. for York, High Sheriff in 1807 and Colonel of the First West Yorkshire Regiment of Militia. He married Sophia, third daughter of George Osbaldeston, M.P. of Hutton Bushell. His son adopted the name and arms of Montagu, according to the direction of the will of the Rt. Hon. Frederick Montagu, of Papplewick. Richard Fountayne Wilson was described at his death by the Illustrated London News as "probably the richest commoner in the Empire."
These coolers belong to a dinner service of exceptionally fine quality sold by Wilson's descendant, Captain Frederick Montagu, at Christie's, London, July 3, 1946. Included in the sale were these coolers, part of a set of four, a pair of soup tureens of 1806, and a matching set of sauce tureens by Benjamin Smith of 1807. The matching soup tureens were formerly in the Fowler Collection, Los Angeles. These and two of the sauce tureens were sold from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Christie's, New York, October 20, 1999, lots 186 and 187.