Orivit - Coffee and tea service (5) - Metal

Orivit silver-plated metal tea and coffee service — Germany, early 20th century. Important German tea and coffee service from the Orivit AG manufacture, executed in silver-plated metal, composed of a coffee pot, teapot, creamer with lid, sugar bowl with lid, and serving tray. The pieces feature bodies with polygonal cross-sections, tall, faceted walls, resting on slightly open and moulded bases. The lids, equally faceted, have a sunken pyramid profile and are topped with flattened geometric handles. Decoration concentrates on the upper part of the vessels, through successive square panels applied, made up of concentric frames and geometric reliefs, with a protruding central button. The same motif repeats at the junctions of the handles, creating a rigorous and coherent architectural composition throughout the set. The coffee pot and teapot have long, elevated spouts with curved lines and notched ends. The handles, tall and angular, follow the vertical construction of the bodies and emphasize the modernist character of the design. The sugar bowl has two small side handles and a faceted lid, while the creamer repeats, on a reduced scale, the formal structure of the other pieces. The tray is rectangular with chamfered corners, a raised rim, and a geometric stamped frieze. It has two large side handles visually connected to the ornamental language of the service. The visible marks correspond to the Orivit AG punch, formed by an arched cartouche with monogram and the inscription “ORIVIT,” accompanied by model numbers, including 8118. Orivit was one of the leading German metalwork manufacturers of the Jugendstil period; in 1905 it came under the control of WMF, which continued to use the mark in the following years. Although the piece could be marketed as Art Deco, the more rigorous stylistic classification is: geometrizing or Secessionist Jugendstil, transitioning to the Art Deco language. Its production should be placed in the early 20th century, probably around 1905–1914. Orivit produced tea and coffee services, trays, and other domestic objects in various metals, including white metal and silvered pieces. The set shows signs of use and aging.

Brand: Orivit AG
Origin: Germany, Cologne
Era: early 20th century, probably c. 1905–1914
Style: Geometric Jugendstil / Secessionist, precursor to Art Deco
Material: silver-plated metal or white metal
Composition: coffee pot, teapot, creamer with lid, sugar bowl with lid, and tray
Marks: Orivit punch and model number, including 8118
Height of coffee pot: approximately 24 cm
Length of tray: approximately 49 cm

Rare Orivit silver-plated tea and coffee service, in geometric Jugendstil design, composed of five pieces — Germany, c. 1905–1914