A Victorian Scottish parcel gilt sterling silver ‘aesthetic movement’ three-piece tea service, Edinburgh 1879 by Mackay, Cunningham and Co

Comprising a teapot, a milk jug and a twin handled sugar bowl. The bodied of incurved oval ‘batswing’ form with beaded rims, each with chased serpent handles with a coiled tail. The teapot with a tubular spout opposite a serpent handle inset with horn insulators, the hinged panel domed lid of conforming shaped surmounted by an affixed hexagonal knopped finial. The incurved panel sides each with various finely embossed scenes of; a cockerel upon a wooden bucket amidst fencing and tree, a dragonfly attending a flower garden, a heron in front of a prunus tree, and a dragon fly with a cricket attending bull rushes. The milk and sugar fully marked near rim and the teapot full marked underneath also with MACKAY, CUNNINGHAM & CO EDINR, part-marked to teapot lid on top. (3)

Teapot length – 23.8 cm / 9.3 inches

Weight – 876 grams / 28.16 ozt