A fine and important Dutch silver tazza, designed and executed by J. Begeer, Utrecht, 1910-1911

finely hammered and flat-chased with stylised floral ornaments, set with garnets at the handles and base, the bowl with a frieze depicting Cupid, Venus, Apollo and Athena amidst flowering rose branches, the base inscribed and chased: TER HERG AAN HET KOPEREN HUWELIJKSFEEST VAN ANNA DE JONGH EN ANTON PHILIPS DEN 9EN DEC. 1910, fully marked, dateletter rubbed

The tazza offered for sale, was presented on the occasion of the copper marriage anniversary of Anton Philips and his wife Anna Philips-de Jongh in December 1910. The piece was made by the Dutch silversmith Carel Joseph Antonie Begeer (1883 – 1956), who studied at the Hanau Königliche Preussische Zeichenakademie. Gifted with as much artistic talent as business acumen, Begeer was appointed artistic director at his father’s firm the Koninklijke Utrechtsche Fabriek van Zilverwerken van C. J. Begeer. Whilst being promoted to director in 1910, Begeer designed unique pieces as well as series-produced tableware for the firm. This tazza was clearly an important private commission, which would have been handled by Begeer himself. The fine detailing shows his craftsmanship, and the design of dense intertwined rose branches reveals the influence of his outstanding study at the Hanau academy. The tazza echoes the work of German Art Nouveau silversmiths such as Ernst Riegel, Darmstadt, Germany. The abstract motives driven on the nodus and foot are of a precursory style; Begeer would only work in a more non-figurative style later on in his career. An almost identical tazza, manufactured by Begeer in 1909, for Jan Kol and Caroline Heubel on the occasion of their silver marriage anniversary and now in the collection Meentwijck was sent to the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1910. The extensive list of literature below shows the importance of the tazza.

Literature and exhibitions:
Exh. cat. Drents Museum, Stedelijk museum de Lakenhal, Museum voor Sierkunst en Vormgeving Carel J.A. Begeer 1883-1956, Assen-Leiden-Gent, 2001, p.60-68-75-76 illustrated.
A. Krekel - Aalberse, Modern zilver 1880-1940, Londen, 1989, p. 180 illustrated .
Exh. cat., Klokken, zilver, sieraden uit de nederlandse art nouveau en art déco, Utrecht, 1976, p. 16, no 55 illustrated.
Exh.cat. Haags Gemeentemuseum, Nederlands zilver, Den Haag, 1960, p. 110, nr. 191 illustrated.
M.J. Brinkgever and Carel J.A. Begeer, Een eeuw edelsmeedkunst 1835-1935, Den Haag, 1935, nr. 109 illustrated.
H. Ellens, Onze Disch, 1929, nr.25 illustrated.
C.J.A. Begeer, Inleiding tot de geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Edelsmeedkunst (1919), p.46 , nr. 145 illustrated.