A very fine quality antique Victorian silver plated four piece tea set. The set consists of a tea pot, a coffee pot, a cream jug & a sugar bowl. Each piece is of a circular bell shaped form with beautiful bright cut hand chased foliate decoration around the outside & a monogrammed cartouche on one side. The teapot & coffee pot have a harp shaped handle with a thumb mount & each has a circular flush box joint hinged lid on the top with a nicely shaped filial handle. Both have a swan neck pouring spout with matching foliate decoration. The sugar bowl has a scrolled lifting handle on either side & the cream jug has a matching handle with pouring spout at the top. Both are gilt lined on the inside. The sugar bowl & cream jug are both marked on the underside with the makers mark including the date letter U for 1880. Lovely fully usable collectors item.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date
Date letter U = 1880
 
Maker
Elkington & Co
Elkington & Co. are one of the most important names in English silver and certainly the most important in silver plate. They began life in Birmingham as a company of silversmiths in 1836, and experimented with improving gilding techniques. By 1838 they had discovered and patented a new way to electroplate one metal on to the surface of another. By 1840 production was already underway with silver electroplated wares. The company received financial backing from Josiah Mason in 1842 (renaming the firm Elkington, Mason & Co between 1842 and 1861) and was extremely successful. It introduced electrotyping as a new method of production for silver plated items. Elkington & Co exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 with enormous success.
In 1885 Elkington registered designs by Christopher Dresser. Dresser's designs included tea services, sugar bowls, claret jugs, kettles, cruet stands, baskets, a tureen and a tankard. His models are recorded in Elkington's silver and plated ware pattern-books.
Elkington held Royal Warrants for Queen Victoria, King Edward VI, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI. The Elkington & Co. name is still in use today as manufacturers under the auspices of British Silverware Ltd.
 
Weight
2390 grams (total)
 
Dimensions
L x W x H
Teapot: - 230mm x 140mm x 150mm
Coffee pot: - 230mm x 140mm x 210mm
 
Condition.
Excellent condition with light surface marks that are consistent with genuine age, use & polishing. Apart from a tiny patch of slight rub through across the hinge of the teapot there are no dings or dents & there is no other loss of silver plate.