An early 18^th century German silver teapot, Augsburg 1734 by Esaias Busch III (master 1704, d. 1759)

Of pear shape form with a fluted moulded body, the panel section moulded spout with a hinged cover opposite an ebonised C scroll handle pinned to sockets. The right-angle hinged shaped domed lid surmounted by a faceted pyriform finial. The body with applied bosses to either side depicting bacchanalian putto, otherwise with flat chased decoration of foliate scrolls within arabesque vignettes. Marked underneath with makers mark EB, town mark (Beck 203) and assay scrape.

Length – 20.2 cm / 8 inches

Weight – 408 grams / 13.12 ozt

A plain teapot of the same form by the same makers was sold Christie’s London 6 Nov 2008, lot 141 (£4,375 incl. premium)

A coffee pot with the same form of decoration by this maker was sold Sotheby’s Paris, 3 May 2016, lot 203 (€4000 incl. premium)