Teapot - Silverplated - The Harmony Association.

An exceptional and historically laden 19th-century presentation piece: an elegant silver-plated samovar / tea kettle on its original stand with the accompanying spirit lamp, richly executed in a refined, late-Victorian style.

This object stands out not only for its aesthetic quality but especially for its outstanding provenance. On the front there is an engraved plaque with the original inscription:

“De leden van de vereeniging De Harmonie
aan hunnen voorzitter
den heer R. Bloembergen Ez
Leeuwarden, 2 maart 1896”

This shows that this piece was offered as an official commemorative gift to R. Bloembergen, a prominent figure within the Leeuwarden elite and closely involved with the Vereeniging De Harmonie — an influential cultural society that laid the groundwork for the later theater life in Friesland.

Such objects, with a direct link to a historical association and an identified person, are rare and offer a tangible connection to the cultural and social life of the Dutch bourgeoisie in the late 19th century.

The samovar is designed with a gracefully curved spout, a tall rising handle with insulating elements and a refined open-work border motif. The accompanying stand, executed with twisted supports and richly detailed feet, carries the whole ensemble in an elegant manner. The original spirit lamp is still present, underscoring the completeness and authenticity of this ensemble.