Description
This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver four piece tea set consists of a coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug.
Each piece has a pear shaped form onto circular spreading foot.
The pieces of this Victorian tea and coffee set are embellished with chased panelled decoration accented with suspended pendant drop style leaf motifs in addition to a strapwork-style bordered cartouche to either side.
The cartouche to one side of each piece incorporates the contemporary bright cut engraved initials 'WER'.
The bulbous portion of each body is encircled with a band of chased tied ribbon, foliate festoons suspended from circular floral medallion designs.
The upper rim is encompassed with a cast and applied elevated pierced decorated gallery ornamented with palmette style scrolling motifs; this additional gallery indicates the high quality of the service.
The teapot and coffee pot are fitted with domed hinged hallmarked covers reflecting the identical chased decoration as that to the body.
Each cover retains the original hallmarked cast sterling silver finial embellished with scrolling leaf ornamentation, securing to the interior with a wing nut.
The components of this antique silver tea set are fitted with impressive cast sterling silver C shaped handles featuring a thumbpieces embellished with further pendant drop decoration to the upper portion, in addition to large scrolling leaf designs to the handpiece.
The cast sockets of each handle are ornamented with organic leaf designs accented with moulded scrolling strapwork designs paralleling the outer rim.
The coffee pot and teapot are fitted with impressive cast silver swan necked spouts, each embellished with further strapwork designs accented with scrolling leaf motifs; the upper portion of each spout socket reflects the same ornamentation to the lower socket of the handle.
Each piece of this exceptional service if further ornamented with chased continuous leaf decoration to the foot, all on a matte background.
The cream jug and sugar bowl retain the original gilded interior.
The coffee pot, teapot and sugar bowl were made by the renowned silversmiths John, Edward, Walter & John Barnard of Barnard & Sons Ltd in 1875 and the cream jug was crafted in 1900 by William Hutton & Sons Ltd.
This exceptional Victorian is an unusual and highly desirable design.
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