Rare American Silver-Gilt and Enamel Lap Over Edge Dessert Flatware Service, Tiffany & Co., New York, Circa 1890

Auction Closed

January 23, 04:26 PM GMT

Estimate

50,000 - 70,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Rare American Silver-Gilt and Enamel Lap Over Edge Dessert Flatware Service, Tiffany & Co., New York, Circa 1890


each place setting individually etched and decorated with partly-shaded enamel in geometric patterns and flowers including roses, dandelions, thistles, and dogwood, the backs etched in conforming style with monogram SCF, the knife handles numbered 426, comprising:

twelve dessert knives

twelve dessert forks

twelve large coffee spoons

36 pieces, in three Tiffany boxes, two with full Paris office address

Sotheby's, New York, January 31, 1991, lot 84

Sotheby's, New York, January 22, 2006, lot 121

These same enamel patterns were used on a special-order dessert set which "may be the most magnificent flatware ever made by Tiffany & Co... the execution...is nothing short of remarkable" (William P. Hood, Jr., Roslyn Berlin and Edward Wawrynek, Tiffany Silver Flatware 1845-1905: When Dining Was an Art, pp. 229-232). The Art Nouveau feeling of both the naturalistic flowers and the geometric designs is unusual for Tiffany & Co., being closer to the work of Tiffany Studios.


A similar enameled 108-piece set of Lap Over Edge pattern flatware by Tiffany & Co. in white silver recently sold Bonham's London, October 20, 2022, lot 205.

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