Each with handles cast with bearded warriors above a continuous band of vines centred by bacchic masks, they carry the coat of arms of Prince Christopher Andreevich Lieven (1774-1838), who served as the Russian ambassador to the Court of St James after moving to London in 1800.

Two additional pairs of wine coolers engraved with the arms of Lieven are recorded (one sold by Christie’s New York in 1995), while comparable examples of this model in silver by Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith include those sold by Sotheby’s in April last year for £35,000.

The pair offered by Doyle on January 26 carried an estimate of $40,000-60,000 but were sold to a New York buyer at $105,000 (£70,000) plus premium.