Franz Köll (Koell) Large Silver Cream Pitcher 'Milchkanne', Vienna, 1814

This is an early and lovely example of Austrian silver. The bulbous body has a flaring rim with beautiful pouring spout and attached curved handle. Exceptional chasing creates a beautiful band of decoration around the top and bottom of the body.

The larger area is chased with repeating circular pendants from which sprays of flowers hang against a matted background. This area is also decorated with small flowers and bordered with oval circles. Around the base is a band of scrolling classical design with small circle decoration also used above.

Early Austrian silver is quite rare. Nearly all of it was melted down to help pay for the war against Napoleon in the early 19th century. This pitcher is one of the earliest pieces made after those wars and features the neoclassical 'Empire' style popular at the time.

Franz Köll was an important Vienna silversmith, working from 1810-30. This pitcher was made in his shop at Mariahilferstrasse 14 and examples of his work can be found in the collection of the MAK (the Austrian decorative arts museum in Vienna) and important private collections.

This rare pitcher is fully hallmarked with the makers mark 'FK', the 1807-24 inventory mark, the Vienna hallmark for 1814 and the 1810-1824 tax mark. It measures 6 inches to the top of the handle by 6.75 from handle to spout. Made of heavy gauge silver, it weighs 15.65 troy ounces and is in very good/excellent antique condition.