Bailey & Company Antique Coin Silver 8-bottle Cruet Set, Philadelphia, 1852-55

In our 27 years of business, this is only the third American coin silver silver cruet set we have had the pleasure of selling. The other two examples held seven bottles and were made by Obadiah Rich and Bigelow, Bros, Kennard, both from Boston.

This large cruet set is extremely rare. Lovely details decorate the bold handle.

The frame is solid silver. It is oval-shaped and decorated with very fine hand-engraved classical floral and foliate elements around the body.

The top and bottom edge of the body is ornamented and strengthened with applied Greek-key banding along with a row of beading. The beading and scrolling foliate theme is also incorporated into the open foot design.

The original bottles along with their silver mounts, are lovely with deep cut patterns in the glass and engraved details on the silver. The containers consist of two large shakers with pierced removable silver tops, two smaller sauce bottles with silver collars and spouts and cut glass stoppers, two sauce containers with silver handles and collars with hinged lids and two spice jars with silver hinged covers with cutouts for serving spoons.

These containers fit nicely into a fitted interior frame. There are even two small round holders to hold the glass stoppers.

This rare cruet set is marked underneath 'BAILEY & CO/ CHESTNUT STREET/ 136' along with the marks associated with Bailey & Company's coin silver wares. It measures 9.25 inches wide by 6.25 inches deep by 11.25 inches high. It is in excellent antique condition with the 2 glass stoppers replaced and 2 nuts underneath missing.