These exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver wager cups* has been realistically modelled in the form of a male and female characters in an upright stance.
The wide skirt garments of each piece are embellished with chased scrolling leaf decoration accented with figural masks, all on a matte background.
The waisted bodice of each figure is embellished with boned features accented with geometric bands to the shoulders; due to the ornate garments it can be determined they were crafted in form of noble figures.
The upstretched arms of these impressive characters conjoin with impressive embossed opposing scroll leaf decorated branches terminating with dragon style figureheads.
Each pair of branches is connected to a pivoting gimbal-type drinking cup, embellished with further chased decoration incorporating floral festoons, fluted ornamentation and a scalloped border to the collet foot.
The underside of the skirts form a flared bell shaped drinking vessel.
These impressive Victorian cups retain the original gilded interior.
The hallmarks struck to the rim of these impressive cups include:
Importer's mark: TG (Thomas Glaser)
Silver quality/purity mark: Lion passant (sterling)
Assay mark: Leopard head (London, England)
Import date mark: K (1885)
Additional mark: F (foreign manufacture mark)
Maker: Thomas Glaser
