Description
A very fine quality antique English Art Deco 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 plain rectangular tapering form with chamfered corners & raised on stepped pedestal base. The teapot & coffee pot have a black Bakelite harp shaped lifting handle on one side, a small pouring spout on the other side & a black Bakelite finial on the hinged lid on the top. The sugar bowl has a harp shaped lifting handle on either side & the cream jug has a matching handle & pouring spout on the other side. Each piece is of geometric shape which is so typical of the Art Deco period. Each piece is marked on the underside with the makers mark. A very fine quality set, much thicker silver plate & heavier gauge than many sets of this age. Lovely fully usable collectors item.
 
 
Maker
Elkington & Co
Birmingham, England
 
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
1485 grams (total)
 
Dimensions
Teapot: - 270mm x 117mm x 121mm
Coffee Pot: - 211mm x 90mm x 170mm
 
Condition.
Excellent condition with light surface marks that are consistent with genuine age, use & polishing. There is no damage, no loss of silver plate & there are no dings or dents except for a tiny little ding spot on the top rim of the coffee pot.