Description
This magnificent antique Victorian sterling silver tazza has a circular rounded shaped form onto a decorative pedestal and spreading foot.
The body of this antique tazza centrepiece is ornamented with impressive chased interlacing scrolling designs accented with quatrefoil floral motifs and trellis patterns, emanating into the centre of the plain well.
The raised rounded border of the tazza is encompassed with exceptional chased illustrations depicting a variety of hunting scenes; these include male figures fishing, hounds chasing a stag and rabbit, a male on horseback accompanying hounds by a terrain divide.
Each exceptional scene is further segmented by a cartouche displaying chased decorated fruit arrangements, all amidst scrolling ornamentation replicating the design to the well.
The rim of this impressive Scottish silver tazza is encompassed with a chased decorated scrolling design accented with overlaid loop designs.
The body is supported by a tapering baluster shaped pedestal embellished with a further chased decorated hunting scene below a band of stylised leaf motifs.
The exceptional protruding knop to the lower portion of the large pedestal is embellished with chased decorated simplified game bird scenes alternating with cast and applied hound masks.
The upper and lower portions of the pedestal are further ornamented with rounded knops encompassed with chased segmented fleur-de-lys designs on a matte background.
The large circular domed spreading foot of this centrepiece tazza is encircled with chased decorated floral medallions amidst arched strapwork, integrating six shaped cartouche.
Five cartouches display a decorative scene depicting a variety of game birds in their natural surroundings; these birds include pheasants, hens, quails and snipes.
The remaining cartouche is embellished with the contemporary bright cut engraved crest* of a lion's dexter arm couped, the paw holding a cresent above the motto 'Hinc fortior et clarior' - Hence stronger and more illustrious.
The rim of the foot is encircled with a plain applied moulded border.
The underside of this exceptional tazza bears the retailer's mark Edward & Sons, Glasgow & London.
This magnificent and important example of Victorian hunting related silverware is finest of its type you could hope to acquire and highly desirable.
* This heraldic crest pertains the Clan Martin.
Learn more about the history of the tazza.
