This silver milk jug is part of a tea service that includes a silver and ebony teapot and a sugar bowl. It was produced by San Lorenzo, an Italian design studio set up in 1970 with the express purpose of creating contemporary modern designs in sterling silver. The small group of architect-designers at its centre produced high-quality designs, such as the piece you see here, for batch production runs.

The husband and wife team of Tobia Scarpa (b.1935) and Afra Bianchin (b.1937) both studied architecture in Venice. Their designs show a deep understanding of materials and empathy for traditional Italian craftsmanship. They have designed furniture and lighting for other leading Italian companies, such as Flos. They also carried out architectural commissions for showroom and factories, including one for Benetton in 1964, and redesigned public spaces in the Italian provinces.