This magnificent antique four piece Victorian tea set, in sterling silver, consists of a coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug.
The pieces of this tea and coffee service have an oval shaped tapering form.
The surface of each piece is embellished with fine and impressive bright cut engraved ribbon tied foliate festoons, suspended from floral motifs further anchoring pensile foliate drops.
The decoration to the body of each piece is further embellished with two oval cartouches surmounted with ribbon bow designs.
Each cartouche bears a bright cut engraved illustration of an individual portrayal of a putto*, interacting with a variety of items such as birds, insects or drinks and draped in loose flowing fabric.
The upper and lower rims of each item are encircled with bands of bright cut engraved naturalistic decoration.
The upper plateau of the teapot and coffee pot is encircled with a further bright cut engraved naturalistic band.
The coffee pot and teapot are fitted with flush hinged hallmarked covers, surmounted with the original cast silver gilt finials realistically modelled in the form of pineapples; the flush hinges indicate the high quality of each piece.
Each piece of this sterling silver tea service is fitted with a fine and impressive cast ribbed C shaped handle incorporating substantial leaf decorated sockets.
The teapot and coffee pot are fitted with fine and impressive tapering spouts ornamented to the fluted decoration.
The cream jug and sugar bowl retain the original gilded interiors.
The underside of each piece bears a 'lozenge mark' which certifies the patent of this piece on 10th February 1868 with the UK Patent Office.
Such magnificent tea services in this superior quality and in exceptional, almost unused condition are rare to locate; this set is the finest of its type you could hope to acquire.
* In art and culture, a putto (plural: putti) is a chubby male child, usually nude and occasionally bearing wings.
Maker: S Smith & Son
Date: 1867
