Queen Anne Britannia standard silver tazza
Queen Anne Britannia standard silver tazza
9723
This beautifully simple, early-18th-century silver tazza or comport is in fine and original condition. Finding early-18th-century sterling silver tazzas is rare, and examples in fine condition like this one are sought after. The centre is engraved with a family coat-of-arms, that of the XXXX family and its simplicity means it can serve a number of serving purposes: petit fours, biscuits, fruit or canapés.
Britannia silver is a high-grade alloy of silver which has a purity of 95.8% (by weight), with the additional component being copper. The silver content is higher than sterling silver (92.5%) so the metal is softer and more malleable. Today Britannia silver is mostly reserved for creating special commissions.
The Italian word tazza refers to a shallow bowl or dish on a stem with a foot. It is a form of vessel that had been popular since the early sixteenth century. These footed bowls originated in Venice and were made in glass, but gold and silversmiths soon copied the form in precious metals. 16th and 17th century paintings show glass and metalwork tazzas being used to serve delicacies such as fruit, biscuits, sweetmeats, candied fruits, and as purely decorative objects in their own right.
Dimensions:
1706
London
Fine & original
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, with the additional component being copper. The silver content is higher than sterling silver (92.5%) so the metal is softer and more malleable. Today Britannia silver is mostly reserved for creating special commissions.The Italian word tazza refers to a shallow bowl or dish on a stem with a foot. It is a form of vessel that had been popular since the early sixteenth century. These footed bowls originated in Venice and were made in glass, but gold and silversmiths soon copied the form in precious metals. 16th and 17th century paintings show glass and metalwork tazzas being used to serve delicacies such as fruit, biscuits, sweetmeats, candied fruits, and as purely decorative objects in their own right.){kind=link}