Tea and Coffee Service

Silver conforming to the dictates of the archaeologically correct Grecian taste paralleled the period’s architecture, furniture, and other decorative arts. During these years the number of tea pieces in a service continued to grow, often comprising an extensive group of hollowware and flatware. The grandest vessel in this set was intended for coffee or hot water, while the two smaller pots were either for coffee or one or more varieties of tea.  Each of these vessels is struck with an assay mark, in the United States unique to Baltimore, where assaying was mandatory between 1814 and 1830.

Technical notes: The winged paw feet are cast. The spherical bodies and shoulders are raised and soldered together, the joint concealed by the cast floral bands. The spouts of the two smaller pots are pierced, where they attach to the side as strainers. The joints for the decorative spout heads are concealed in the collars, whereas on the larger pot it is attached below the collar. The finials on the two larger pots and sugar bowl are soldered on and vented, while that on the smallest is bolted.

Related examples: Goldsborough et al. 1983, p. 142, nos. 157–62; Christie’s, New York, sale 6622, June 4, 1988, lot 55.

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff.  American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.