MARK OF PIETRO PAULO SPAGNA, ROME, CIRCA 1830

Pietro Paolo Spagna (w. 1817-1861) is recorded as working for the Borghese family. The firm supplied additional silver to the well-known Borghese service by Martin-Guillaume Biennais. These pieces were probably ordered by Princess Pauline Borghese, who lived separately from her husband, in Rome from 1814-1828. It is probable that these coolers were included in the Borghese Palace sale, in Rome 1892.

A comparable example with detachable liner was sold Sotheby's, New York, 21 October 2010, lot 54 and a further pair were sold Sotheby's, Paris, 29 April 2009, lot 113.