This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver mass/alter cruet set consists of two jugs on a matching tray.
The water jug and wine jug have a circular rounded form onto a spreading pedestal foot.
The rounded body of each parcel gilt piece is encompassed with engraved undulating lines, flanked with two plain applied girdles, to stylised leaf decorated borders.
Each subtly tapering neck is encircled with a further plain girdle with a further stylised leaf decorated gilded border to the upper rim.
Each piece is fitted with the original hallmarked domed hinged cover surmounted with an impressive sterling silver quatrefoil shaped finial; the finials bear the stylised letter G to one and A to the other.
The cover of each Victorian silver jug incorporates a plain trefid shaped thumbpiece.
The water and wine jugs are fitted with impressive S scroll handles.
Each jug has a plain sparrow beak spout ornamented with applied moulded decoration to the rim.
This exceptional alter cruet set sits to the original and impressive navette shaped tray.
The surface of this fine tray is embellished with parcel gilt floral rosettes encompassing protruding cylindrical pegs; these allow the jugs to sit securely in situ.
The surface is further ornamented with incurved parcel gilt foliate designs, paralleling the aforementioned rosettes, in addition to a contemporary bright cut engraved crest* of a demi-lion rampant gardant holding between the paws a garb.
The tray bears a plain tapering border, accented with a band of plain applied decoration to the rim.
This exceptional altar cruet set is the finest of its type you could hope to acquire.
* This crest has been determined to pertain to the More family, however there may be other family variants.
Date: 1848
