American Coin Silver Water Pitcher - Antique Circa 1850

Description

This exceptional antique coin silver* water pitcher has a baluster shaped form onto a circular spreading foot.

The lower portion of the panelled body is embellished with alternating flat chased opposing scrolling leaf bordered cartouches, each displaying a scale pattern apart from the anterior cartouche which features the contemporary engraved inscription 'A Token of Esteem from Geo. B. Jones to E. G. Austin. Esq, 1852, Pro recto'.

The upper portion of each panel is ornamented with a large flat chased scrolling design accented with a pensile scrolling leaf drop.

Each subtly convex panel of this antique silver jug is segmented with chased leaf decoration, accented with floral designs to the lower borders.

The upper rim is encompassed with applied scrolling decoration accented with a foliate motif to each incurve; this continues to the spout.

This impressive example of antique silverware is fitted with a coin silver elongated, elevated handle ornamented with scrolling leaf decoration enveloping the upper portion and incorporating the thumbpiece.

The exceptional spout of this antique American coin silver jug is embellished with embossed and chased decoration replicating the details of a floral basket, surmounting a bearded mask design to the nadir.

The circular spreading foot is embellished with further floral and foliate chased decoration accented with flat chased scale motifs and a shaped vacant cartouche.

* Coin silver is an alloy of metals taken from European coins (such as Spanish reales) which makes its composition at 90 percent silver (900 standard). America did not commonly utilise sterling standard until 1870, and those firms which did become proficient in production of coin silver items were mainly in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.