By J. C. Klinkosch
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th century Austrian Chinoiserie solid silver three piece tea set, comprising of a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug. Exceptionally hand crafted, of melon shape, repousse and finely chased work, depicting people of nobility surrounded by blossom trees and pogodas on finely tooled ground, applied with serpent motif handles and the hinged lid topped with a ball shaped finial. Such recurring scenes were favourite of Chinese court and painters of the Ming Dynasty and would continue to be used in later Chinese works of Art.
The style of the pieces closely resembles the examples from the 17th century, a Chinese Export Silver coffee pot made circa 1670 of similar style, is now in the Royal Collection in the UK and is to be found in Queen Victoria’s former private seaside residence on the Isle of Wight, Osborne House.
What makes this coffee pot particularly unique is that it was only in 1652 that the first coffee house in London was opened. Undoubtedly this set was based around a similar piece that was probably in the Austrian Royal collection...
Category
19th Century Chinoiserie Antique Austrian Tea Sets