An Austro-Hungarian Semi-Precious Gemstone Mounted, Enamel, and Silver-Gilt Ewer

Description

An Austro-Hungarian Semi-Precious Gemstone Mounted, Enamel, and Silver-Gilt Ewer. An Austro-Hungarian silver-gilt ewer of bulbous form, mounted with semi-precious gemstones and decorated with polychrome enamel. The flared neck rises from a rounded body and terminates in a shaped pouring lip, the surface entirely covered with chased foliate scrollwork and textured grounds. The handle is cast in a scrolling acanthus leaf design, with a rosette thumb rest at the upper junction and a curled terminal at the lower. The body is arranged in alternating bands of raised, gem-set ornament and enamel decoration, the latter in green and pink tones depicting stylized floral motifs. Raised settings, each mounted with either cabochon garnets or pearls, are evenly distributed across the surface, bordered by finely engraved scrolls and rosettes. A central horizontal band encircles the widest point of the body, formed of enamel panels between symmetrical scroll mounts set with pearls. The domed foot mirrors the decoration of the body, with concentric gemstone mounts and enamelled foliate designs surrounding a circular pedestal base. The base is fully gilt and engine-turned in a radiating pattern from a central applied rosette, edged with a beaded border. The combination of chased silver-gilt, colored enamel, and mounted cabochons is consistent with high-quality Austro-Hungarian decorative silver of the late 19th century.

Details

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