S. Kirk & Son Repoussé 11oz Silver Covered Soup Tureen, c. 1870-80

Beautifully decorated with floral and foliate repoussé and bold acanthus leaves rising from the pedestal foot, this rare soup tureen with a pedestal base is oval in shape. Naturalistic cast branch handles are applied at the ends. Another exceptional casting is the pheasant with spread wings atop the domed repousséd cover.

Samuel Kirk and his firm created some of the very finest 19th century American repoussé silver. At the vanguard of the introduction of the style in the 1830's, Kirk's firm remained at the forefront of craftsmanship during the 19th century.

When this was wonderful soup tureen was made, soup was one of the most important courses of the meal. This tureen would have taken a central place at the table where it would have impressed all who saw it - just as it does today.

This lovely tureen is marked underneath 'S. Kirk & Son/ 11OZ'. It measures 13.5 across the handles by 8.25 deep by 12 inches high, weighs 58.45 troy ounces, has never been monogrammed and is in very good antique condition.