Elkington & Co. - Coffee and tea service (4) - .925 silver - sterling

Elkington & Co. – Impressive four-piece coffee and tea service, Birmingham 1924

925 sterling silver | Elkington & Co., Birmingham | 1924 | Total weight: 2025 g

An exceptionally decorative, four-piece English coffee and tea service, crafted from 925 sterling silver by the renowned firm Elkington & Co.
The set bears full British hallmarks: the maker's mark "E&Co," the lion passant (indicating sterling silver), the Birmingham anchor, and the date letter "Z" for the year 1924.
The set contains a coffee pot, a teapot, a sugar bowl, and a milk jug.
All pieces share a unified style and feature remarkably rich engraved decoration.
The bodies of the vessels have a striking gadrooned form, with vertical divisions serving as natural panels for intricate ornamentation.
The upper sections of the pots and nearly the entire surfaces of the smaller vessels are adorned with an elaborate composition of palmettes, stylized leaves, scrolls, trelliswork, geometric patterns, and Neo-Renaissance motifs.
The lids of both pots are particularly impressive; their radiating decorative pattern accentuates the gadrooned structure of the vessels, while centrally placed, light-colored turned finials create an elegant contrast with the silver surface.
Both larger vessels feature high, arched handles wrapped in natural wicker, which serves as thermal insulation.
This detail is both practical and highly decorative, lending the service the distinctive appearance of early 20th-century English tableware. The preserved woven insulation further enhances the set's visual appeal.
The interiors of the sugar bowl and milk jug are gilded, creating a striking, warm contrast with the silvery exterior surfaces.
The gilding also served a practical purpose, protecting the silver surface during use.
The set is distinguished by its exceptional craftsmanship. The precision of the engraving, harmonious proportions, and finely executed handles, spouts, and lid details exemplify the production standards of Elkington & Co., one of the most renowned British silversmithing firms of the 19th and 20th centuries.
A notable feature of the set is its substantial total weight 2,025 g.
Combined with its sterling silver composition, complete four-piece configuration, rich ornamentation, and prestigious maker, this service is compelling both as a fine piece of display tableware and as a collector's item.

Catalog Details
Maker: Elkington & Co.
Location: Birmingham, Great Britain
Date: 1924
Material: Sterling silver (925 purity)
Total weight: 2,025 g
Number of pieces: 4
Pieces: Coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug
Hallmarks: E&Co / lion passant / Birmingham anchor / Z (1924)
Dimensions:
Coffee pot: height 23 cm, width 27 cm;
teapot: height 12 cm, width 27 cm
milk jug: height 8 cm, width 13.5 cm
sugar bowl: height 9 cm, width 20 cm.

Shipping with GLS inside EU included in price.