Sandylands Drinkwater White Wine Label, c.1745

Sandylands Drinkwater was one of the earliest and most important makers of silver wine labels. He was working in London during the 1720's through to the 1760's, from the time he obtained his freedom following his apprenticeship with Robert White in 1726 until his own former apprentice Richard Binley took over the running of the Gutter Lane workshop in 1760. Drinkwater was a contemporary to some of the great silversmiths of the day such as Paul De Lamerie and George Wickes and rose through the ranks to become Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths Company.

The escutcheon form is considered to be the earliest style of silver wine label and Sandylands Drinkwater was the main protagonist of the design, setting the benchmark in terms of quality. 

The label is flat chased with vine and grapes and is boldly incised WHITE WINE to the centre. This silver White Wine label is in excellent condition and hallmarked with the "SD" in script surmounted by a crown for the maker and the 1739-55 lion passant, thus dating this label to circa 1745.