An extensive silver and champlevé enamel tea, coffee and dessert service, Karl Albrecht, St Petersburg, 1879

comprising a tea pot, coffee pot, cream jug, covered sugar bowl, jam pot, tray, four cake or waste bowls, twelve plates, five cups and six saucers, twelve knives, twelve forks, twelve dessert spoons, six tea spoons, tongs, tea strainer and sugar scoop, decorated with friezes of cockerels and stylised flowers within bead and geometric borders, with cypher SGH beneath the coronet of a count, the knops cast as coronets, the twelve plates, knives, forks, and dessert spoons of two different designs, six of the plates enamelled en plein with the Archangel Michael and Latin motto 'Tu in ea et ego (misspelled as 'eoo') pro ea' above the cypher, talon feet, ivory insulators, gilt interiors, 84 and 88 standards

Excellent condition. The plates with very light scratches. A claw foot on two of the cups very slightly loose.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Tu in ea et ego pro ea' (You in Her, I am for Her), in addition to being the family motto of the unidentified count or countess who commissioned the present lot, is also the motto of the Spanish ducal House of Alba and appears in the civic arms of Montemayor in the province of Córdoba.