20thC THAI SOLID SILVER FOUR PIECE TEA SET ON TRAY c.1950

A 20th Century Thai solid silver tea and coffee service, richly worked throughout with high-relief repoussé decoration and presented complete on its matching tray. Comprising a coffee pot, tea pot, covered sugar bowl, creamer, pair of sugar tongs and a substantial serving tray, each piece is decorated with alternating panels of deities and scrolling foliate motifs within pointed cartouches. The figures are shown seated in traditional pose with hands held in prayer, set against finely textured grounds that emphasise the depth of the chasing. The coffee and tea pots are of baluster form, raised on circular stepped bases.

Both retain their domed covers with tiered finials and engraved borders. The spouts are formed as stylised mythological creatures with elongated necks and scaled detailing, and the scrolling handles are similarly ornamented. The sugar bowl and creamer repeat the same repoussé panels and shaped bodies, maintaining consistency across the service. The sugar tongs and the serving tray are also decorated, the tray with a broad border of scrolling foliage in keeping with the design of the set.

Each piece is hallmarked "THAILAND, STERLING". Items marked "THAILAND STERLING" were generally made from 1949 onwards, following the permanent name change from Siam to Thailand. Pieces stamped simply "SIAM STERLING" usually date from 1926 to 1949.

Reference Number: A00116