Description

This is a rare early antique silver coffee pot from the reign of George I. This handsome pot is made from Britannia standard* grade silver and has the desirable octagonal shape with domed lid. Lovely plain style and a nice feature is the ducks head spout terminal. Also, to the other side there are 2 decorative shaped reinforcement plates where the shaped handle meets the body. Weight 786 grams, 25.2 troy ounces. Height 25 cms. Spread 21 cms. London 1721. Lid with Britannia mark*. Maker, almost certainly, the celebrated Huguenot maker Augustus Courtauld.

Literature: Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.

Very good condition with no damage or restoration. Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Maker: Augustin Courtauld

Augustin Courtauld 1685/86 - 1751. The young Augustin came to England from France during the persecution of the Hugeunot Protestants in 1696, and in 1701, he was apprenticed to the prominent Huguenot silversmith Simon Pantin to whom Augustin’s half-brother Peter (1689/90–1729) was also apprenticed. Free of the Goldsmiths’ Company by service in 1708, Augustin entered his first mark (Britannia) as largeworker later that year. Subsequent marks – 2nd (Sterling) in 1729, 3rd 1739. Augustin, the patriarch of a numerous and prestigious silversmithing family, married Anne Bardin in 1709 and of their many children Anne married John Jacob in 1738 and Samuel I (1720–1765) was apprenticed to his father in 1734, free 1747. Augustin’s will left to Samuel I all his trade utensils and patterns. Augustin established a reputation for producing exceptional domestic silver of heavy gauge and fine quality. He was head of a successful, prolific and renowned family of Silversmith’s, prominent members of the Huguenot community who contributed notably to the arts and skilled crafts, commercial enterprise and public life in eighteenth century England. He produced many fine two-handled cups, vessels for tea, coffee and chocolate and decoratively bordered trays and salvers. Many of his works are held in private collections, notably in the Courtauld Institute Gallery. Other works include a centrepiece made for the Russian court and the State Salt of the City of London.

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