A heavy Edwardian sterling silver ‘Teniers’ three-piece tea service, London 1904 by Sydney Bellamy Harman

Comprising a teapot, a milk jug, a sugar bowl, and a pair of sugar tongs. Each of baluster circular form upon four scroll shell feet, the teapot with a curved spout surmounted by an applied bird opposite an ebonised C scroll handle leading to a hinged gently domed lid with a floral edge with embossed decoration of foliage and scrolls all surmounted by a detachable cast finial formed as a man refilling his tankard from a beer barrel. The bodies with cast and embossed decoration of Teniers style decoration of Dutch tavern scenes involving figures enjoying libations, music, and games. The sugar and milk with cast and textured handles formed as tree branches, with gilt interiors. The milk jug spout with a cast spout as a female mask. The sugar tongs formed as cast sections of foliage, with a terminal formed as an inebriated man upon a beer barrel. Each fully marked and part-marked. (4)

Teapot length – 25 cm / 9.8 inches

Weight – 2273 grams / 73.08 ozt