Tiffany and Co Aesthetic Movement Sterling 'Cricket Band' Table Bell, NYC, c. 1880

With a close look, one can see imagination and whimsy on display. The partial gilt figures are "Katy-Did" or bush crickets playing an assortment of instruments including a violin, a french horn, three other horns, an accordion, a tambourine, and a marching bass drum. Notice the pained look on the crickets face trying to manage the large drum! This extraordinary acid-etched decoration is executed against a beautiful hammered body. The shaped handle has an applied fly applied on the side of the top.

Charles Grosjean sketch of part of the "Katy-Did" or bush cricket band. Courtesy Gorham Mfg. Co. Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.

A design and technical book by Tiffany silversmith and designer Charles Grosjean includes a sketch of some of the band members. An accompanying note mentions how successful the design was on the cigarette case made for a Russian Prince. (1)

This stunning bell is marked 'TIFFANY & Co/ STERLING/ 5856 M 6854.' It measures just over 2.5 inches wide by 3.75 inches high, weighs 6 troy ounces and is in excellent antique condition with its original clapper, and some wear to the original gilding.

Endnote:

Charles Grosjean, Ledger (Technical Book of Descriptions of Processes and Metallurgy), Gorham Mfg. Co. Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University, p. 322.