Description

A rare antique sterling silver covered sugar bowl of circular form on a small spreading foot. Excellent plain design, typical of the period. Good colour. In the early 18th century sugar bowls or sugar boxes nearly always had covers which, when reversed, could be used as a saucer or spoon tray.

Weight 219 grams, 7.0 troy ounces.

Total height 9cm. Bowl diameter 9.7cm.

London 1748.

Maker probably Samuel Taylor a specialist tea caddy and sugar bowl maker.

Literature. Early sugar bowls, like the small size teapot, were of small capacity due to the rarity of tea. Small circular bowls from the late 17th century can occasionally be found, these were probably tea bowls originally but by 1710 the sugar bowl started to appear. These often had a cover which could be inverted for use as a saucer or spoon tray. Usually these early sugar bowls are round however octagonal examples are very rare and extremely desirable.

Marks. Fully stamped under the bowl with a set of English silver hallmarks (the date letter is double stamped, the makers mark is rubbed). The marks underneath the cover are poorly stamped with only part of the leopard, date and lion marks showing.