Rare & Exceptional French Sterling Silver “Paris First Title” Hallmarks (.950)Tea & Coffee Pot 2 Piece Set, 1819-1838, with Amazing “Dragon Spouts”, Ebony Handles in the French Empire Style

Rare and truly exceptional early 19th century French Empire style sterling silver .950 tea pot and coffee pot pair with amazing palmette motifs and elegant unstained ebony handles. French sterling silver hallmarks on both pieces are of the “Paris First Title” namely the image of the “Vieillard” or “old man with the number 1” noting the higher silver content of .950 and dates to 1819-1838.

The sterling silver horizontal tea pot and vertical coffee pot are both oval in form and decorated with friezes of palmettes and water leaves. Both the tea and coffee pots each have a wonderful “zoomorphic dragon head” spout with “scales”, connected to the body by a large detailed palmette with floral motifs. The handles are a refined unstained ebony attached to the top of the form by a circular empire style rosette. Both pedestal bases have “ribbed” and “beaded” trim details. The finials are different for each pot based on the function: the tea pot lid is not hinged necessitating the “cooler”  ebony finial vs the coffee pot lid is hinged having a sterling “seed pod ” finial. The interiors, especially the tea pot, show the wonderful early technique of hand hammering the sterling silver.

An early 19th century exceptional pair, in the higher sterling silver content and “dragon” imagery, certain to create a sensational conversation at any table.

Dimensions: Tea Pot: height 7.0″ x width 13.0″ x depth 6.0″, Coffee Pot: height 13.5″ x width 10″ x depth 5.25″

Total Weight: 1986 grams (63.85 Troy Ounces)