A George II Carved Mahogany Wine Cooler attributed to John Hodson, Circa 1750

Christie's New York, 15 April 2011, lot 478;

Where acquired by Aso O. Tavitian.

This wine cistern can confidently be attributed to John Hodson of Soho (1709-1786) based on the 'neat mahogany cistern' he supplied to the 2nd Duke of Atholl for Blair Castle, Scotland in 1738, which remains at the house (A. Coleridge, 'John Hodson and some Cabinet-Makers at Blair Castle', The Connoisseur, April 1963, p. 225, fig. 4). Hodson's extensive commissions for the Duke of Atholl, together with patrons including Lord Monson and the Earl of Leicester at Holkham Hall, show he was an established though less recognised cabinet-maker of considerable talent. His billhead proclaimed his 'great variety of all sorts of furniture in the neatest and most fashionable manner'.

Other cellarets from this identifiable group include: two sold by the collector H.J. Joel at Childwickbury, Christie's house sale, 15 May 1978; others are illustrated in J. Lee, 'Lion Claw Wine Coolers,' Apollo, May 1952, p. 133, fig. 1; two with the London dealer Hotspur one of which was subsequently in The Jerome C. Neuhoff Collection, sold Sotheby’s, New York, 25 January 1986, lot 194.