A cased Victorian sterling silver four-piece tea and coffee service, London 1874/75 by Martin Hall and Co

Comprising a coffee pot, teapot, covered milk jug and a covered twin handled sugar bowl. Each of compressed circular form with quarter-fluted base and a flat-chased acanthus band. Each with an everted beaded rim. The pots (1874) with a curved spout opposite a reeded strap handle with acanthus junctions and ivory insulators. The lid surmounted by fluted knop finials with a rocaille calyx, additionally decorated with a band of guilloche. Each engraved with a cypher DB in gothic script. Milk jug and sugar bowl with gilt interior. Each fully marked to side, the lid and finials part-marked. Housed within a contemporaneous oak case with purple velvet interior, the top with inset brass vacant cartouche.

Coffee pot height – 18.5 cm / 7.25 inches

Weight – 2219 grams / 71.34 ozt

The presence of a covered milk jug and covered sugar bowl, items which conventionally are not found with lids within British silver suggest that this set was made for use overseas, perhaps in the Indian colonies where examples have been noted made for British use where these two receptacles are covered.