In historic inventories this piece was described as the earliest example of an English wine fountain although in fact it is German in origin. Descriptions of it in use in the seventeenth century noted that it spouted coloured flames and perfumed waters. The fountain was presented to Charles II by the City of Plymouth in July 1660. A contemporary account described it as:

a fountaine carved with rare art, curious figures, out of the tope perfumed fier did apeare and small pipes att the sides that sweet waters gushed forth.