1820-1830 Ridgway Porcelain Dolphin Fruit Coolers Covers & Liners - A Pair

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Frozen Splendour: The Ridgway Dolphin Coolers

This magnificent pair of Fruit Coolers (or Ice Pails) is a dazzling relic of … Read more Frozen Splendour: The Ridgway Dolphin Coolers

This magnificent pair of Fruit Coolers (or Ice Pails) is a dazzling relic of opulent Regency-era dining, demonstrating the extreme luxury associated with frozen desserts in early 19th-century England.

Ridgway Factory, Pattern No. 1173, Circa 1820–1825
Staffordshire, England

These coolers represent the finest quality porcelain produced by the Ridgway Factory, a key dynasty in the Staffordshire pottery landscape, which aimed to compete with the most expensive dessert services of the day (Godden, c. 1968).

Function and Symbolism:

The Ice Age of Dessert: The presence of a separate inner liner and outer container confirms the specialized purpose of this object: to serve ice cream or iced fruit. Before modern refrigeration, frozen desserts were an exclusive dish, first appearing only on the tables of royalty in the late 17th century. By the 1820s, these pails were a hallmark of upper-class sideboards.

Engineering for Chill: The double-walled design would have been packed with a mixture of ice and salt, a chemical process that drastically lowered the temperature, allowing the ice cream in the inner liner to remain frozen for up to four hours. The porcelain material was ideal as it is impervious to the corrosive effects of salt.

Regency Aesthetics: The form is both opulent and practical. The body is dramatically raised on three beautifully gilded dolphin feet, which not only provide a decorative, classical motif but also served a practical purpose: preventing the intensely cold base from freezing to and damaging a fine linen tablecloth. The rich decoration—hand-painted floral sprays beneath a striking blue band and elaborate gilt lattice—emphasizes their status as prestigious table centerpieces.

As such specialized objects were rarely made after 1830, this pair is a beautifully preserved testament to the grand, theatrical style of dining that defined the British Regency era.

Provenance:
The Carter Collection, Australia.
The Barry Bryne Collection, Australia.
Delamosne, London.

Materials: Porcelain, Enamel Painting, Extensive Gilding
Dimensions: 13 1/2 inches high (34.2 cm)

References
Godden, G. (Editor & main author). (c. 1968). Staffordshire Porcelain (Colour plate IX, page 242).

Delomosne & Son Ltd. (Information regarding the function of ice pails and the use of salt).

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