1887 Victorian Sterling Silver Teniers-Style Figural Sugar Bowl by John Septimus Beresford, London

A substantial Victorian silver bowl—and a lively tavern scene unfolding in the round.

This exceptional sterling silver sugar bowl was made in London in 1887 by British silversmith John Septimus Beresford and bears a complete set of London hallmarks.

The bowl is decorated in the celebrated Teniers style, inspired by the convivial genre paintings of seventeenth-century Flemish artist David Teniers the Younger. Popular in Victorian decorative silver, these compositions depict rural taverns, music, dancing and informal gatherings with warmth, humour and remarkable narrative detail.

Around the body, the decoration unfolds like a continuous panorama. Villagers gather outside a tavern to drink and converse; musicians perform while others dance; elsewhere, figures sit together enjoying conversation and refreshments. Houses, trees, wooden fences and distant hills create a richly layered rural setting, with a different episode revealed from every angle.

The figures were individually modelled and applied to the surface of the bowl, producing pronounced sculptural depth. Their clothing, hats, gestures and facial expressions are finely rendered, while the surrounding landscape combines repoussé, chasing and finely punched textures. The contrast between the high-relief figures and the detailed background gives the silver an almost three-dimensional, pictorial quality.

One side retains an unengraved cartouche framed by trees, originally intended for a family crest, monogram or personal inscription. A substantial rolled rim and stepped circular foot complete the design, giving the bowl a balanced and dignified profile.

Weighing approximately 360 grams, the bowl is notably solid and beautifully made—an accomplished example of late nineteenth-century British narrative silver.

Details

* Date: 1887
* Period: Victorian
* Origin: London, England
* Maker: John Septimus Beresford
* Hallmarks: Full London sterling silver hallmarks
* Material: Sterling silver
* Style: Teniers Style
* Subject: Rural tavern life, drinking, music and dancing
* Techniques: Repoussé, chasing, high relief and applied silver figures
* Height: Approximately 8.5cm
* Diameter: Approximately 13cm
* Weight: Approximately 360g
* Cartouche: Unengraved

Condition

Excellent antique condition. The applied figures and surrounding landscape remain crisp, detailed and strongly defined. The bowl retains light surface marks and natural signs of use consistent with its age. Please refer to the photographs for a close view of the condition and hallmarks.

Why You’ll Love It

More than a functional piece of silver, this bowl is a miniature social history rendered in precious metal. Its animated figures, intricate workmanship and substantial weight make it both a sculptural decorative object and a highly collectable example of Victorian Teniers-style silver.

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