Silver Fruit Tazza
A silver fruit tazza brings architectural height to a table, combining a raised pedestal with a shallow bowl designed for display.
Silver Fruit Tazza
A silver fruit tazza sits on a raised foot or pedestal, elevating centrepieces and decorative bowls above the surface of a dining table or sideboard.
Examples on this page span the nineteenth century through the mid twentieth century, encompassing styles from Victorian and Edwardian periods to Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Arts and Crafts.
Forms include footed bowls, comports, and pedestal dishes in sterling silver, silver plate, silvered bronze, and chrome, often paired with cut glass or crystal.
What Varies in Quality
Substance and proportion separate heavier sterling pieces and substantial silvered bronzes from lighter plated wares and chrome alternatives.
The precision of hand-hammered surfaces, crisp repoussé relief, and secure structural joints determine the finesse of the pedestal and bowl connection.
Some pedestal stands double as three-legged creatures that appear ready to scuttle across the sideboard after dessert.
A E Jones·Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company·Charles Boyton·Walker & Hall·WMF·James Dixon & Sons·Christofle et Cie
The Silver Fruit Tazza Glossary
- Tazza
- A shallow bowl or plate mounted on a pedestal foot, used historically for serving fruit or sweetmeats.
- Comport
- A large standing dish or pedestal bowl similar in function to a tazza, placed at the centre of a table.
- Repoussé
- A metalworking technique where the artisan hammers the design from the reverse side to form a raised relief on the front.
- Pierced
- Metalwork perforated with decorative patterns or lattice apertures to lighten the visual weight of the vessel.
Silver Fruit Tazza: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a silver fruit tazza used for?
These elevated vessels held fruit, sweetmeats, or confectionery at formal dining tables, serving as decorative centrepieces.
Their raised profile added height and dimension to table settings during Victorian, Edwardian, and later dinner parties.
How do I clean a silver tazza?
Maintenance depends on the material, requiring gentle silver polish for sterling items and mild soapy water for plated or combined glass pieces.
Avoid abrasive cloths that can damage delicate repoussé work or wear through thin silver plating on older metal surfaces.
How do I date a silver pedestal dish?
Hallmarks stamped into sterling silver provide assay office marks, date letters, and maker symbols that pinpoint the exact year of manufacture.
Stylistic cues such as geometric Art Deco lines or flowing Art Nouveau motifs also help narrow down the period when hallmarks are absent.