Coffee Pot thumbnail 1
Coffee Pot thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

Coffee Pot

1872-1873 (made), 1868 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This coffee pot forms part of a full tea and coffee service. W. & G. Sissons were Sheffield-based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881 Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25 4s. 0d.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Raised and engraved silver, with cast handle, spout and finial, hinged lid and protective ivory strips
Brief description
Silver, London hallmarks for 1872-73, mark of W.G. Sissons, Design Registry mark for 1868.
Physical description
Silver coffee pot, urn shaped with engraved decoration in a classical style.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.3cm
  • Length: 22.6cm
  • Width: 13.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Base: Design Registry mark (showing that it had been registered as part of a tea & coffee service on January 2nd, 1868); under rim of neck: “Mackay”, “Cumming May and Co.” and maker WS GS for W+G Sissons Ltd. Sterling, leopard’s head, date letter small gothic R (1872-3), duty; handle: maker, duty, sterling; lid: maker, sterling, date letter; finial: maker, duty, sterling; nut: sterling
  • Crest: lion’s head above banner “SPERO”, beneath monogram “JLT” and engraved 'Mr and Mrs J.L. Toole with Henry Irving's love, 27th April 1879'
Gallery label
This coffee pot forms part of a full tea and coffee service. W. & G. Sissons were Sheffield-based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881 Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25 4s. 0d.(2000)
Object history
Purchase - £112. 10. 0 (for Circ. 97-100); From Holmes Jewellers Ltd., 29 Old Bond Street
From a teaset. Henry Irving and J.L. Toole were important English actor-managers with their own companies. In spite of professional rivalries, they were close friends. W&G Sissons were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881, Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces ( tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl ) in classical style for £ 25 4s .
Summary
This coffee pot forms part of a full tea and coffee service. W. & G. Sissons were Sheffield-based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881 Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25 4s. 0d.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.98-1961

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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