George III Irish Silver Wine Label 'Port' - 'Boy on a Barrel'

A rare George III Irish silver Wine Label of eye shape with bright-cut engraved border, surmounted by a barrel supported by foliate branches on either side, sitting astride the barrel is a naked boy or bacchus figure with a bottle or decanter in one hand and a goblet in the other.

By George Nangle, Dublin, c1800

See: Wine Labels 1730-2003, edited by John Salter, page 274 & fig 912.

The so-called Boy on a Barrel design was first used as a wine label design in Dublin, sometime between 1773 and 1786 based on the harp crowned and Hibernia cycle of those years. I suspect the true inspiration for this design is the classical depiction of Bacchus astride a barrel; this image has been used on signs outside the traditional German wine taverns and often on 16-18th century pottery jugs and figures.

Sold - £550.00