Pair George II Sterling Silver Oval Tea Canisters.
Contemporary Chased Floral Decoration, Flower Lid Finials, Removable Sliding
Bases. Made by Samuel Taylor, London 1754.
(s1044)
A really magnificent and rare pair of George II oval tea
canisters, complete with their domed lids and sliding removable bases. These
remarkable tea canisters are the work of Samuel Taylor who made them in London
in 1754. They are beautifully decorated with original chased floral decoration
to both sides of each canister in a rococo cartouche shape. They are also
decorated on the shoulder with more chased floral decoration. They each have a
domed lid, used for measuring out the tea, these having delightful cast flower
finials. The base of each canister is removable by sliding them out, so that the
canister can be filled with tea.
To check price and availability:
click here
For a condition report: click here
These stunning tea canisters are each hallmarked on the
body of the canisters themselves, on the inside of the lids and on the removable
bases.
The quality of these tea canisters is second to none. They are
very heavy for their size and thus robust. The condition of them is excellent
(see full report at the base of this page), and the decoration is still sharp,
not worn.
It is rare to find such magnificent George II tea canisters that
are in such excellent condition and even more rare to find a pair. They are fine
early items of silver for the connoisseur collector of English Georgian silver
or tea wares.
Tea Canister 1:
This tea canister is of a straight sided, oval form. It is made
from heavy gauge silver, making it very solid. The body of the canister has
its contemporary chased floral decoration of flowers and foliage. This
decoration is very crisp and is the form of a rococo style cartouche, the inside
of which is blank. the detail in the flowers and foliage is superb. This same
decorative panel appears on both sides of the tea canister.
There is a strap band at the top and base of the canister's body
for decoration and strength. The shoulder of the canister is decorated with more
chased floral decoration complimenting perfectly the side panels of the
canister.
There is a raised collar to the canister onto which fits the low
domed lid. This lid is also the measure for the tea when poured from the
canister. This lid has two decorative bands around it, one round the top and one
round the base portion. there is a pretty beaded line round the top of the lid.
The lid is surmounted by a delightful flower finial. This flower
finial is of a cast silver flower with stem and two leaves. This is a beautiful
feature of the lid.
The base of the canister is removable by sliding it out. This
was to allow the canister to be easily filled with tea.
The tea canister is hallmarked on one side with a full set of
marks. There is also a shortened set of marks on the removable base, including
the maker's mark of Samuel Taylor and a lion passant mark inside the lid. Full
details of the hallmarks is given in the marks section of this page below.
Tea Canister 2:
This second tea canister of the pair is of a straight sided,
oval form. It is made from heavy gauge silver, making it very solid. The body
of the canister has its contemporary chased floral decoration of flowers and
foliage. This decoration is very crisp and is the form of a rococo style
cartouche, the inside of which is blank. the detail in the flowers and foliage
is superb. This same decorative panel appears on both sides of the tea canister.
There is a strap band at the top and base of the canister's body
for decoration and strength. The shoulder of the canister is decorated with more
chased floral decoration complimenting perfectly the side panels of the
canister.
There is a raised collar to the canister onto which fits the low
domed lid. This lid is also the measure for the tea when poured from the
canister. This lid has two decorative bands around it, one round the top and one
round the base portion. there is a pretty beaded line round the top of the lid.
The lid is surmounted by a delightful flower finial. This flower
finial is of a cast silver flower with stem and two leaves. This is a beautiful
feature of the lid.
The base of the canister is removable by sliding it out. This
was to allow the canister to be easily filled with tea.
The tea canister is hallmarked on one side with a full set of
marks. There is also a shortened set of marks on the removable base, including
the maker's mark of Samuel Taylor and a lion passant mark inside the lid. Full
details of the hallmarks is given in the marks section of this page below.
yThis is a rare and magnificent pair of George II Tea
Canisters. Oval in shape, with contemporary chased floral decoration and flower
finials. They have removable lids and bases, all hallmarked. Made in London by
Samuel Taylor, 1754
Size and Weight: (values are approximate)
Marks:
Both these stunning tea canisters are well and clearly hallmarked. The
details of the marks on each canister is given below:
Tea Canister 1:
There is a full set of marks on the side of the tea canister's body, these
include the Lion passant for Sterling Silver; Crowned Leopard's Head of the
London assay Office; Date Letter 't' for 1754 and the Maker's Mark 'ST' for
Samuel Taylor.
The removable base of the tea canister has a shortened set of hallmarks
comprising the Lion Passant for Sterling Silver and the maker's mark 'ST' of
Samuel Taylor.
Finally, there is a Lion Passant mark for Sterling Silver inside the lid of
the tea canister.
Tea Canister 2:
There is a full set of marks on the side of the tea canister's body, these
include the Lion passant for Sterling Silver; Crowned Leopard's Head of the
London assay Office and Date Letter 't' for 1754.
The removable base of the tea canister has a shortened set of hallmarks
comprising the Lion Passant for Sterling Silver and the maker's mark 'ST' of
Samuel Taylor.
Finally, there is a Lion Passant mark for Sterling Silver inside the lid of
the tea canister.
These rare and
superb tea canister are in remarkably excellent condition. Both have no repairs, major dents or scratches and the decoration and hallmarks are clear. The only
extremely minor imperfection that I will point out is the most tiny of dents to
the side of tea canister 2, but this is very tiny and insignificant.
A very fine and rare pair of extremely high quality George II tea canisters.
A fantastic pair for the connoisseur collector of early English silver or tea
wares.
