Salt and pepper container in the form of a cart, Vienna, 1848
Description
Medium: silver (standard unconfirmed, likely min. 800‰), partially gilt
Weight: 220 g; Dimensions: 20.5 x 8 x 6 cm
Hallmarks: Austrian control hallmark in the “Viennese cross-shield” format, dated 1888; Letter “A”, indicating Vienna assay office
Provenance
Private Collection, Romania
Location
Bucharest, Romania
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Description
An unusual and elaborate table accessory modelled as a miniature cart, carrying two barrel-form containers. Each cask is fitted with a central opening for filling with salt and pepper, integrating functionality within a playful sculptural composition.
The structure combines hammered and cast elements, with carefully modelled details that evoke coopered barrels and a wheeled cart. The object reflects mid-19th century Viennese silverwork, where inventive forms and narrative design are incorporated into tableware. Traces of partial gilding enhance the visual contrast and suggest attention to both aesthetic and practical considerations.
The hallmark, though imperfectly struck, indicates a Viennese workshop and a date of 1848. While the fineness mark is not fully legible, such objects were typically produced in alloys not below 800‰ silver within the Austrian system of the period.
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