Tiffany, Young & Ellis/ Tiffany & Co, Made by Edward C./ John C. Moore Coin Coffee Service, NYC, c. 1852/53

Consisting of a coffee pot, teapot, warming stand, hot milk jug, creamer, covered sugar bowl, waste bowl, and rare celery vase, this extraordinary coffee service features octagonal paneled bodies.  Each piece is beautifully engraved with Renaissance-inspired designs of foliage, strapwork, scrolls, etc. In addition, two opposing panels are engraved with a shield containing 'SW' monograms.

The four lids to the pots and sugar bowl have raised dome centers with applied ball-topped octagonal finials. A warming stand is a very rare addition to a coffee pot of this period, allowing it to be used to warm a variety of beverages. This example has applied splayed feet and foliate swags. The coffee pot perfectly fits this warming stand and has its extremely rare original interior frame to hold a muslin pouch for tea filtering.

Paneled, flat surfaces are challenging for silversmiths to execute. Nevertheless, this set is an impressive accomplishment from the shop of John C. Moore, whose work was sold exclusively by Tiffany.

Moore was a principal supplier to Marquand & Co, successors Ball, Tompkins & Black, and Ball, Black & Company. Then, in 1851, Charles Tiffany convinced John C. Moore and his son Edward C. Moore to become exclusive suppliers to Tiffany - the rest is history.  

The delightful assembly of marks on this service document early changes at Tiffany.  The hot milk jug is stamped 'TIFFANY & COMPY' within a serrated punch along with Moore's gothic 'M' mark and the number '2'. The coffee pot, creamer, and sugar are marked 'TIFFANY, YOUNG & ELLIS/ J.C.M,' and the teapot is marked 'TIFFANY & Co/ 271 BROADWAY/ J.C.M/ 2.' The stand and vase are unmarked. The first two marks were used from 1848-1852, and the 271 Broadway mark was first used in c. 1853, so we can pretty specifically date this service to c. 1852/53.

The coffee pot measures 9 inches high, and the stand adds another 2.5 inches. The set is in excellent antique condition. As the original burner for the warming stand was missing, we commissioned silversmith Robert Butler to make one in sterling based on a c. 1850 design by Vincent La Forme. (The drawing is in Winterthur's library.) The total weight of the service is an impressive 138.15 troy ounces.

Due to the original ivory insulators, this item is not for sale to New Jersey. It is licensed to sell in New York.