Collection Highlights
Section of water pipe
1800-1840
X.47
Wood, iron
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
Coffee and tea service (4 pc.)
Object name
Coffee and tea service (4 pc.)
Date
1871, 1885
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 6 1/4 x 11 1/4 x 5 5/8 in. (15.9 x 28.6 x 14.3 cm)
Description
Spun silver coffee and tea service consisting of a coffeepot, teapot, sugar bowl with lid and a creamer; plain hemispherical bodies made in halves and joined around the middle with a die-rolled decorative band of hearts and foliate scrolls on a textured ground between two plain bands; plain vertical footring; vertical beaded rims; low domed lids with a ball on disk finial; cast loop handles with pointed leaf thumb pieces and stylized acanthus attachments; "1871" engraved in overlapping gothic numerals on the front centers, "M A B" engraved in gothic script on the rear centers; maker's marks on the bases.
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Dudley Davis in memory of his mother, Marie Antoinette Baker Davis
Object Number
1950.186a-d
Marks
Inscription: all pieces engraved at front centers: "1871" in overlapping gothing numerals
Inscription: all pieces engraved at back centers: "M A B" in overlapping gothic letters
stamped: on bases of the teapot and creamer: fleur-di-lis over "STERLING" over a lion passant in a chamfered rectangle, an anchor in a rectangle and a gothic script, "G" in a chamfered rectangle over "790/ D/ 6 1/2 PINTS"
stamped: on bases of the coffeepot and sugar bowl: lion passant in a chamfer rectangle, anchor in a conforming rectangle and a gothic script "G" in a chamfered rectangle; "790"; "STERLING"/ foxes head
Gallery Label
According to the accession record, this coffee and tea service was made for the wedding of Marie Antoinette Baker and Fellows Davis on October 17, 1871. This is probably true of the coffeepot and sugar bowl as the date mark on the base indicates they were made in 1871. The teapot and creamer, on the other hand, have a fox head date mark, indicating they were made in 1885. It is possible that they were replacements for damage or lost originals, or the couple completed the service at a later date.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
