One of the largest and most prestigious objects made in Dutch silver is the wine cooler. Coolers were usually produced in copper, brass or tin, and occasionally in earthenware, porcelain or marble. The most luxurious examples, however, were made of silver and served a largely representative function.

The Netherlands experienced great prosperity during the seventeenth and much of the eighteenth century. Inventories from The Hague, Leiden and other prosperous cities show that many wealthy households owned one or more silver coolers. Even for those who could afford them, these impressive vessels were among the heaviest and therefore most valuable silver objects in the household. Because of their considerable weight, they were often among the first items to be melted down when funds were needed. As a result, Dutch silver wine coolers from the eighteenth century are exceedingly rare today.

This fine example was made in Utrecht in 1769 by Cornelis van Straatsburg, one of the foremost silversmiths of his generation. Born in 1723, Van Straatsburg became a master in the Utrecht silversmiths’ guild in 1755. His workshop produced silver of the highest quality, distinguished by balanced proportions, refined chasing and elegant Rococo ornament. Works by his hand are represented in several important collections, and this wine cooler ranks among his most impressive surviving pieces.
Only one other Utrecht wine cooler is registered, made five years later by Adam Visch.