Hallmarked 1896 it is officially a Victorian piece of silver but the shape and the pierced detail at the top show the growing influence of the Art Nouveau period.

By the renowned firm, Walker & Hall, it is a fine weight and in excellent condition

It could be used as centre piece with flowers or as in this case as a fruit bowl

And it is affordable!!

As is usual with Indian silver it is unmarked but the quality and the style and the detailed scenes are typical of the renowned silversmiths from Lucknow.

Lucknow silver had three major motifs: the jungle, with groves of date palms and various animals, such as dogs, bears, deer and birds; coriander leaves and flowers; and hunting scenes, with lions, tigers, and horses. This presentation bowl is an excellent example of all these features

Look at the photo with the champagne bottle and you will see a rhinoceros – really unusual. And I think those maybe elephant feet that are sticking out at the sides?

This Indian silver bowl was crafted at the time when the British Raj was powerful and this powerful bowl makes an ideal centre piece but is also the perfect size as a wine or champagne cooler

A flamboyant bowl from a flamboyant era

This sturdy spoon has been crafted with care.

The round bowl has a repousse worked dragon against a mat background. Dragons represent power, good luck, wisdom and strength  

The handle has used the bamboo motif.  Bamboo is a symbol of strength, resilience, and flexibility.

A perfect wedding gift but also what a great addition to the dining table

The scalloped bowl has six pierced and repousse worked panels – two of dragons, two of plum blossom and two of chrysanthemums .

Each of these motifs has great symbolism:

Dragons symbolise prosperity and good fortune, embodying a positive force in spiritual journeys.

Plum blossom symbolises perseverance and hope, beauty as well as thriving in adverse circumstances!

Chrysanthemums symbolise a prosperous life, positive growth, joy, and unwavering optimism

The bowl stands on three cast dragon feet .

The bowl has a closely fitting contemporary cranberry red glass liner

Once again we see the superb quality of pieces coming from the Wang Hing atelier

The mid 19th century was the high point of the English ritual of “afternoon tea,” popularized by Anna, Duchess of Bedford in the 1840s.

This tea set would have been the height of fashion at that time

Weighing 1,660 grams ,all three pieces of the set are very impressive – and that’s what you wanted to do – impress the neighbours.

The set has an elegant curved shape with  finely hand chased flowers and foliage decorating the convex sides.  There are reserves on either side of each piece which may originally have engraved initials or even the family’s coat of arms.  The flower finial on the domed lid add that extra something.

The sugar bowl and cream jug retain the original gilding

Such quality !

The set of eight spoons are Norwegian by David Anderson and date from the 1920’s – its rare to get eight spoons in a set

The set of forks are Swedish sterling silver

The other three sets are English hall marked silver.

The Blue corinthian set of spoons are by Thomas Bradbury and date from 1928

The multi coloured set of tea spoons date from 1934 and are by Barker Ellis

The  spoons with the enamel flowered bowls are more recent.  These date from 1972 and are by SJ Rose and Son

Great gifts and great fun to use.

Each piece of the tea set is hand engraved with decorative swirls amongst flowers and foliage – in the style of the period.   There are shaped reserves for engraving

The spout of the tea pot has extra detail as have the hanldes of the three pieces

The interiors of the sugar bowl  and creamer still retain the original gilding

The finial of the lid of the tea pot is in the form of a flower.

This set is a fine size and excellent weight (1660 grams) and amazing value.

The lid is finely worked with the iris motif – which symbolises hope, wisdom, trust and valour.

The lid is double skinned as so often with Japanese Export silver

The base carries the triangular turtle mark of the renowned Japanese maker Sanju Saku, one of Japan’s leading silversmiths, based in Yokahama, making and retailing silver with enamels to this style  1880-1920

The tea pot is rounded with a tall swing handle.  The cream jug is double skinned as almost always on Japanese Export silver.  The sugar bowl retains its original double skinned lid

The detail of the iris motif on this set is exceptional.  Note the fine detailing of the finials and the iris motif added at the bottom of the swing handle , the quality of the flowers repousse worked against the hamered background on the round bodies of the pieces

Irises symbolise  hope, wisdom, trust and valour, making it a great flower to have on a tea set.

This set is the work of a master craftsman.

The tray is displayed on a matching tray which is sold separately

The bowl of the dish is softly hammered – a finish that can only be done by hand

The green handles are bakelite 

Touch the link to learn more about this state of the art material in 1931 when this dish was made

The green of the handles make this very much a designer item – almost certainly specially commissioned

The criss cross  handles is also featured in the design on the base

Someone thought long and  hard when designing this dish

Fine weight and condition