DESCRIPTION |
Large Regency silver coffee biggin with ivory insulators, a concealed hinge and an engraved armorial and crest. Motto reads 'Virtute et Opera' or By Virtue and Work. Coffee biggins are an early form of coffee maker, originally with a muslin bag to contain the grounds suspended from a ring and flange inside and just beneath the lid. The bag and ring are lacking but the flange is still perfect. Today's coffee makers are now generally preferred to the biggin for making coffee with the biggin saved for serving coffee in the most sumptuous style. This one is of generous proportions and holds two and one half pints comfortably and a little more with greater care. It is also the footed variety to enable the coffee to be kept warm on a hotplate. Coffee biggins are scarce as they were the reserve of only the super-rich of their day. This shows through in the quality of this piece, not only in the weight of metal employed but also the execution, design and attention to detail. A fantastic example in superb condition. |
| SILVERSMITH |
William Elliot |
| DATE or HALLMARK |
1819 |
ASSAY OFFICE or COUNTRY |
London |
WEIGHT in GRAMS |
849 |
| SIZE in INCHES |
height: 8 |
SILVER STANDARD |
.925 sterling silver |
OVERALL CONDITION |
Generally excellent. The hallmarks to the body are readable but part worn. Fortunately they are in part repeated on both the lid and handle to give full confirmation of all marks and attribution. The little black mark to the very top of the finial is another sterling mark. |
MAJOR FAULTS |
none |
MINOR FAULTS |
tiny dig to the lid seat rim, shown in the last image. |
| BACK | Price £468 | SOLD | Item Number: M2069 |
|