Ball Black Sterling Silver Helmet & Bust Tea Set C1855 75 Oz Rare For Sale

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We are pleased to offer this rare c1855 Ball Black sterling silver classical helmet and bust tea service.

The service is from the very highly regarded New York City form succeeded Ball Tompkins & Black in 1851. They retailed silver from the most important New York work shops of the day. These including John Moore, of Tiffany fame, William Gale, and Nicholas Bogert.

By 1860 John Wendt took over silver manufacture, and many of the pieces bore his shield trademark. We believe this was an earlier example.

The set crafted in archaic long neck bottle form. Fashioned after centuries old Greek and Roman drinking vessels.

Well cast flat top covers. Topped with Spartan warrior helmet finial, atop beaded base. The forward swept helmet top with satin finish and string of rivets, as real. Original handled fasteners below.

Equally striking raised classical bust handles. The rich, hauntingly life like head atop beaded frame step C-shape handle. Culminating in raised artichoke, heart medallion and anthemion terminal.

Gothic engraved Apr. 13 1869 to one side.

The cream jug is 7 3/4 inches tall 12 standard ounces.

Sugar 10 inches tall and it is 7 handle to handle and weighs 26 1/2 standard ounces.

Waste bowl is 5 3/4 inches 13 1/2 standard ounces.

Teapot 9 1/4 inches tall and 27 1/2 standard ounces.

The entire service crafted in exceptionally thick, heavy guage sterling silver and weighs 75 (standard) ounces.

Hallmarked as shown.

In excellent condition. Rich, lustreous sterling patina throughout. Interior of tea pot clean as if never used. The life like Spartan helmets and mask cap anthemion handles retain their original crisp, vibrant detail. Handles secure and original heat stops. Covers close flush. The tea pot with few tiny shallow bumps.

For the discerning collector of the finest mid 19th century New York silver. Focused upon rare medallion and warrior patterns. An important Ball Black & Co. sterling Spartan helmet and bust tea set. Excellent condition.

ORIGINALLY OFFERED IN OUR store FOR $8500. USD.

Please feel free to inquire directly about this, or any item.

We are collectors first. As such, we are easy to work with.

We combine items when shipping, saving you costs. We ship twice weekly, US Postal Priority & Express, never Ground. Always fully insured. We often lose money on actual shipping costs.

We make great effort to accurately describe our silver. Returns are accepted, if condition, country of origin or dating is significantly incorrect. In such cases we refund your shipping.

These are antiques, with some expected wear from hundreds of years of. As such, returning an item because we failed to mention the tiniest few scuffs, pinhead bumps or mildly bent rim is not acceptable.

Massachusetts residents are subject to sales tax.

We have 7730 responses and proud of our Top Seller designation.

We received favorable notice in the March 12th, 2006 New York Times. Page 8, Business Section, in a well written article on silver collecting. Copy furnished upon request.

From our personal collection, an elegant mid 19th century coin silver basket, from John and Edward Moore, of Tiffany fame. Illustrated in the cover article of May/June 2008 Silver Magazine, page 27.

Enjoy....and good fortune in your offerding.

This item has been shown 346 times. Ball Black Sterling Silver Helmet & Bust Tea Set C1855 75 Oz Rare: $3,700