Rare Antique Solid Silver Victorian Tea Set, 3 Piece Gothic Design - Elkington 1853

We are delighted to offer this majestic and unusual Victorian solid silver three-piece tea set made by the renowned silversmithing firm, Elkington & Co. of Birmingham, 1853.

This set is made in the neo-gothic style that was popular in the mid Victorian (1850s) era. Being made by Elkington, it is of no surprise that its quality, aesthetics and embellishments are excellent and exemplary.

Each piece features a wonderfully geometric 'panelled' design which truly embraces the reflective nature of silver - the set glistens magnificently from all angles and is furthermore apparent upon handling in person.

What is perhaps most interesting is the fact that the engravings feature an almost hybrid combination of Romanesque and Gothic designs.

Whilst 'standard' gothic-style silverware is quite rare and desirable in its own right, this set features a slightly more unusual and 'rounded' design in comparison to normal gothic-ware. (Gothic architecture and design normally feature sharply pointed terminals, edges and accents whereas Romanesque features a more rounded design).

The angular design in combination with sharp hand-engraved motifs certainly make for a unique and eye-catching tea set, inimitable with modern contemporary design.

It is particularly impressive that this tea set remains in excellent order, leak free and with a highly polished mirror-like surface that catches and reflects sunlight almost, if not, just as brightly as when it was made over 170 years ago! The interior of the sugar bowl and milk pitcher is fully gilt which presents a nice contrast to the silver exterior whilst also adding a layer of protection from the silver oxidising with the contents held within.

Whether be it a wonderful collectable piece of interior decor to elevate its setting or a practical piece for an opulent afternoon tea, this distinguished set is the ideal addition for the discerning individual. Perfect among other antique wares or as a centrepiece attraction that juxtaposes a contemporary interior, we believe these practical yet sculptural objects not only are a time capsule of history but have a place in today's society with a touch of creativity.

Full sets of English hallmarks are present on each piece with matching marks.

*Please note: all images with other items are for display purposes only, this listing is for the title item only.

Ivory declaration submission reference: UWGKTUKG

SIZE

Teapot Size (Handle to Handle) L:24cm W:14.2cm H:19.5cm

Teapot Size (inches) L:9.44 W:5.59 H:7.67

Sugar Bowl Size (Handle to Handle) W:17cm H:11.5cm

Sugar Bowl Size (inches) W:6.69 H:4.52

Milk Jug Size W:7.7cm H:14.5cm

Milk Jug Size (inches) W:3.03 H:5.70

Total Weight - 1587 grams / 51.02 troy oz.

CONDITION

Excellent Condition - The tea set is in excellent antique condition, with no damage, leaks or issues. For accuracy; very minor surface wear and tiny pinpricks commensurate with age, however, in excellent order especially for an item over 170 years old.

One note; the 'scraped' areas on the reverse side near the hallmarks are not a later damage/defect but as a result of an original action by an assay master performing assay testing. In order to guarantee and confirm the silver content is of passing standard, the assayer would scrape (hopefully a non-disruptive) area of the silverware to test for its purity/contents. Interestingly enough, the remnants of the silver scrapings would be kept upon the retirement of the assay masters and as such some individuals would scrape as much as 'reasonably possible' which led to very large marks, more than really necessary as is the case with this item.

We aim to overemphasize and state these issues to avoid disappointment and thus please rest assured they are not significant nor affect the usage of the items.

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