A very fine, impressive and unusual antique Austro-Hungarian silver five piece tea service; part of the diverse continental silverware collection at AC Silver Description
This fine, impressive and unusual antique five piece silver tea service / set consists of a spirit kettle , teapot, cream jug, sugar box and tray .
The pieces of this continental
The spirit kettle and teapot have a circular form; the cream jug, sugar box
The body of each piece is embellished with engraved and tooled decoration accented with single and quatre-foil motifs.
Each piece is further ornamented with a vacant quatrefoil shaped cartouche to one side, apart from the tray, where the cartouche displays the contemporary engraved inscription:
L. Berl
M. Engel
J. Fróhlich
B. Hóinigsberg
G. Ostreicherl
J. Wengraf
W. Weifs
26 December 1869
The spirit kettle retains the original hinged hallmarked cover which also retains the original and impressive finial realistically modelled in the form of a parrot perching on a branch.
The spirit kettle is fitted with a swing handle with simple scrolling terminals and an integrated central portion crafted in ivory.
The kettle is supported on a three-legged stand fitted with two locking pins and associated security chains.
The stand is ornamented with an applied, shaped, thread decorated border and embellished with the same engraved and tooled decoration as the other pieces of this fine Austro-Hungarian tea service.
The teapot is fitted with a flush hinged hallmarked cover, indicating the fine quality of such a teapot.
The impressive detachable spirit burner is similarly embellished.
The spirit burner is fitted with a shaped ivory handle.
Like the spirit kettle, the antique teapot retains the original hinged hallmarked cover which also retains the original and impressive finial realistically modelled in the form of a pheasant.
The cover of the locking sugar box is surmounted with a similar finial
Both the teapot and cream jug are fitted with simple yet effective scrolling ivory handles with integrated carved thumbpieces and silver sockets
The rim of the cream jug has an applied thread decorated border.
The spirit kettle and teapot are both fitted with simple swan necked spouts with molded mouths.
The fine, fluted swan necked spout has a water leaf decorated moulded shaped lip and significant shell decoration to the underside of the lower portion.
The teapot is supported by four acanthus leaf decorated volute scroll, bracket style feet.
The pieces of this fine continental tea service are presented on the original tray.
The surface of the tray is embellished with the same single and quatrefoil designs as the associated teaware pieces.
The hallmarked tray surface is further ornamented with an engraved interlocking Arabesque style border.
The swept, serpentine shaped sides or the tray are ornamented with an appiled shaped, loop decorated rim with integrated shaped handles.
The underside of the tray is fitted with the original wood frame - a common practice of this style and period.
The surface of the tray displays the Dianakopf (Diana's head) number 3 hallmark which denotes 800 standard silver crafted between 1867 and 1872.
Condition
All the pieces of this unusual tea set are a very good gauge of silver, fine quality and in excellent, presentation condition.
There is minor crazing to the ivory handles in keeping with age.
The majority of hallmarks are struck to the surface of each piece and are clear considering their position; some are slightly rubbed in keeping with age, though as good as could be expected .
Hallmarks as expected, struck to the interiors of the kettle, teapot, sugar box and burner covers, surface and border of the tray are clear.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of these impressive examples of Austro-Hungarian silver teaware.
Dimensions
Kettle
Length from back of handle to tip of spout 20cm/8"
Diameter of body 15cm/5.9"
Height to top of handle 32cm/12.6"
Teapot
Length from back of handle to tip of spout 19cm/7.6"
Height to top of handle 12.2cm/4.8"
Cream Jug
Length from back of handle to lip 12cm/4.7"
Diameter of body 8.5cm/3.3"
Height to top of handle 8.2cm/3.3"
Sugar Box
Length 10cm/4"
Diameter of body 8.5cm/3.3"
Height to top of finial 10.6cm/4.2"
Tray
Length across handles 52.5cm/21"
Width 35cm/13.7"
Total Weight
60 troy ounces/1866g - excluding tray with wooden insert
Read a short history of silver tea services
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