Coffee pot with ebony handle, silver, parcel-gilt, London hallmarks for 1965-66, mark of Garrard and Co. Ltd., designed by Alex Styles.

Silver, parcel-gilt, the base, square with rounded corners, sits on a narrow recessed foot which follows the line of the base. The walls rise vertically and then taper inwards. The lid, attached to the body by an exposed hinge at the rear has a flat top where the contour follows that of the base, the sides flush with those of the body. The lid has an internal flange, concealed when closed; the upper rim of the body is strengthened by a wire strip soldered to the inside edge. An ebony block is set into the leading edge of the lid and serves as a thumb piece. The D shaped handle of carved ebony is pinned into two oval sockets set in the middle of the back wall. The spout in the form of an attenuated S, rises at a 45 degree angle from the middle of the front wall.

A similar service, with the addition of a hot water jug, was presented to the Prince of Wales by the people of Caernarvon on the occasion of his investiture at Caernarvon Castle in 1969.

Alex Styles worked on the permanent staff of Garrards as their principal designer for forty years (1947-87). His position meant that he was probably responsible for designing more handmade silver than any of his contemporaries. As a designer, he was very influential in the 1960s and 1970s. He created not only a distinguished range of domestic silver, but also an impressive range of ceremonial silver, including maces for the Manchester City Corporation and the Legislative Assembly for the Northern Territory, Australia.

Alex Styles worked on the permanent staff of Garrards as their principal designer for forty years (1947-87). His position meant that he was probably responsible for designing more handmade silver than any of his contemporaries. As a designer, he was very influential in the 1960s and 1970s. He created not only a distinguished range of domestic silver, but also an impressive range of ceremonial silver, including maces for the Manchester City Corporation and the Legislative Assembly for the Northern Territory, Australia.

A similar service, with the addition of a teapot, was presented to the Prince of Wales by the people of Caernarvon on the occasion of his investiture at Caernarvon Castle in 1969.

M.40-1996