ANTIQUE 19thC AESTHETIC MOVEMENT SOLID SILVER TEA SET, MARTIN & HALL c.1879

DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century Victorian Aesthetic Movement, exceptional solid silver three piece tea set, comprising of teapot, sugar bowl, cream jug and tray. The set is extremely rare and finely crafted, chased and engraved with highly-decorative fish, seaweeds and tortoises in a Japonesque inspired style on hand hammered surface, applied with stylized flowing Arts & Crafts inspired handles and an unusual spout with a junction.
​Each piece is Hallmarked English silver (925 standard), London, year 1879, Maker's mark RMEH (Martin Hall & Co), each piece has the inventory number 3274, the base of the tray engraved with a presentation and initials.

You can see that these great London & Sheffield based silversmiths must have been greatly inspired after visiting the Paris exposition in 1878 and seeing similar pieces that were at the peak of fashion, designed by Tiffany & Co director Edward C. Moore (please see Magnificent Tiffany Silver, John Loring, page 46).

Also a very similar tea set by Tiffany, decorated with bugs, butterflies and fruit won the Grand Prix for silverware at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris, one of the brand's first major successes, (currently in the Chitra Collection). 

CONDITION

In Great Condition - No Damage.

SIZE

TEAPOT
Height: 15cm
Width: 18 x 10cm
​Weight: 475g

SUGAR BOWL
Height: 8.5cm
Width: 14 x 10cm
​Weight: 230g

CREAM JUG
Height: 10cm
Width: 9.5 x 6cm
​Weight: 210g

TRAY
Height: 5cm
Width: 38.5 x 27.5cm
​Weight: 1120g