A Victorian sterling silver ‘aesthetic movement’ four-piece bachelor tea and coffee service on tray, London 1888/92/93 by messrs Barnard

Comprising a teapot, a coffee pot (1893), milk jug, twin handled sugar bowl, pair of sugar tongs (1892) and a twin handled tray. Each of rectangular form with incurved sides all upon four ball feet. The pots with curved panel section spouts opposite wooden D section handle, the hinged domed lids surmounted by detachable ebonised fluted knop finials. The tray of elongated octagonal form upon four scroll bracket feet. The field engraved with three herons, one in flight with a pong with flowering lily pads, flanked by bamboo and palms on rocky outcrops. The other elements similarly engraved, all with vacant cartouches and foliage. The milk and sugar with gilt interiors. Each fully marked, the tray stamped 188, teapot 748, coffee pot 594, sugar 916, milk 711. (6)

Tray length – 49.7 cm / 19.55 inches

Teapot length – 19.1 cm / 7.5 inches

Coffee pot height – 15.2 cm / 6 inches

Weight – 2508 grams / 80.63 ozt