FIVE-PIECE TIFFANY & CO. STERLING SILVER "JAPONISME" COFFEE AND TEA SERVICE,Circa 1878. Including coffee pot, teapot, hot water kettle (without stand), creamer and sugar (with gilt interior). Gourd-form hammered bodies, with applied viney gourds and dragonflies, butterflies, frogs and other insects, gourd-form finials, handles with ivory insulators, chased 'SRH' monogram. Underside inscribed October 28th, 1881 - 81 oz., 4 dwt., total weight; 10 in. high, coffee pot. Estimate $3,000-5,000
Coffee pot inscribed October 28th, 1882. Pot is a later piece and dates to early 20th century.
Overall condition is good. Decoration is crisp on all pieces unless otherwise stated. Some rubbing to hammered bodies found on teapot, sugar and coffee pot. Rubbing located near where the neck and lid areas meet and is a result of normal usage. Suagr has some gilt detail on insects giving the appearance of mixed metals.
Teapot: Mark crisp, dent to body near foot, dent to body near handle Creamer: Mark crisp, monogram with some rubbing, two small shallow dents near foot. Coffee pot: Mark rubbed but legible, small shallow dent near foot. Sugar: Mark crisp, some insects and gourds with gilding Water kettle: Mark rubbed but legible, handle loose at joints with ivory insulators.
