Wood & Hughes 6-Piece Sterling Coffee and Tea Service, c. 1860's

This rare coffee service exhibits exceptional design and workmanship. The urn shaped bodies are ornamented around the shoulders, collars and lids with elegant bright cut engraving of classical motifs on a shimmering matte finish. The angular handles have cast and applied thumb pieces of flaring acanthus leaf designs. Each piece is surmounted by a geometric circular finial with applied balls. This ball design in repeated with beading on the foot and rim of each of the pieces.  This use of geometric decoration is an early example of the aesthetic movement and modernism in silver.

The hot water kettle with its original burner is an amazing piece of silver on its own.  The wonderfully cast architectural base is decorated with scrolling volutes with leaves joined with bows.  Bold lion mask handles clutching oval rings in their jaws are cast and hand finished with exceptional detail.  The handle to the spout has a fully cast and applied figure of a fox. 

Each piece is monogrammed 'LSF' in a cursive style.  We can only speculate the original owners name was Fox.  

This stunning and unusual sterling coffee and tea service is marked underneath each piece 'W&H / STERLING'. The height of the kettle is 20.25 inches.  The combined weight is 199.45 troy ounces.  This service is in very good antique condition.

Our Price: $12,900.00 

Item code: D539