Tiffany & Co Antique Sterling Silver Japonesque Small Bowl, NYC, NY, c. 1872

Striking combinations of Japanesque appliques and chasing create a stunning effect on this bowl. Originally a waste bowl from what was an incredible coffee service, this bowl is a wonderful object on its own. Designed by Edward C. Moore, the bulbous body is covered with applied ornamentation of birds amongst exotic foliage against a textured, lightly gilt background.

A beautiful applied band incorporates repeating phoenix birds amongst a stepped, structural element. This band, bird, and foliage decoration can be seen on a different coffee set and salt dish using the same textured background, bird, and foliage in Magnificent Tiffany Silver. (1) The band is also used on a Japanesque tea caddy shown at the 1878 Paris Exposition....(2)

Provenance: Private Collection.

This very rare item is marked 'TIFFANY & Co/ 2465 MAKERS 4989/ STERLING-SILVER/ 925-1000/ M' along with the French import mark. This bowl also bears a sweet 'YS' monogram done in an Asian style placed unobtrusively on the background. It measures 5 inches wide by 4 inches tall, weighs 14.15 troy ounces, and is in excellent antique condition retaining its original gilding. There is some wear to the exterior gilding, but the interior appears untouched.

Endnotes:

1. John Loring, Magnificent Tiffany Silver, (New York: Harry M. Abrams, 2001), p. 31.
2. Ibid., p. 35.