A refined English George IV sugar bowl with a rounded body, 19th century

Antique Golden Silver Sugar Bowl London 1836 equipped with 6 teaspoons and tongs for lumps, placed in an octagonal mahogany box with a lid, complete with a working lock and a brass handle inscribed Tho.s Allen Poynder No. 6 in italics.

Thomas Henry Allen Poynder, owner of the famous Hartham Park estate, a Georgian residence in Wiltshire, England, near Corsham, from which the artifact likely originates. 

This refined English George IV sugar bowl with a rounded body, shaped like a vase with a rounded, locking lid, is made of thick silver plate with a fineness of 925, richly embossed with naturalist-inspired motifs. Flowers and leaves are depicted around four shells in scrolls, motifs that follow each other up to the knob, with a flower combined on top of the lid. 

The exquisite craftsmanship is enhanced by engraved and carved ornaments, creating a continuous play of shadows and light through alternating smooth, shiny surfaces and opaque areas marked by countless traces of iron chiseling. The artifact is also gilded on the inside. 

On the body of the vase and on the edge of the lid are marks of the London silversmith RAWS 1836/37 referring to Richard William Atkins and William Nathaniel Somersall, active in the city between 1827-1836 (registered in March 1825), on a rectangular field with rounded corners. It weighs 556 grams, stands approximately 16.5 cm tall, with a diameter of 12.5 cm. 

Six teaspoons and tongs for lumps are cast and finely carved; they weigh 288 grams and were produced in London in 1820/21, marked at the bottom of the handle and on the inside of the tongs by silversmith Edward Farrell (1779-1850), known for exquisite and refined dagger designs in the Renaissance style and for being a silversmith for the Prince of York. 

A single teaspoon was probably always modified in London in 1827/28. 

Inside the lid is a label from Catchpole & Williams Silversmiths and Jewelers No. 120, Regent Street. 

The set comes from a private collection in Milan and has arrived in good condition; we limited ourselves to repairing the mahogany lock box, making a key, gluing the smallest chip, and polishing the box with wax. 

The numbering engraved on the case leads us to believe that it was matched with teapots, coffee pots, or tea caddies, with which these exquisite accessories were usually created together.

Exquisite antique furniture and accessories can be an excellent idea for decorating our interiors. Currently, there is a growing number of enthusiasts for high-quality vintage items that have a distinct character and soul. It’s a nod to history, craftsmanship, and the design of classic and timeless furniture. There are many different styles in antique furniture, each with its own distinctive features.  

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Empire-style furniture and accessories date from the late 18th to early 19th century. Everything stems from Napoleon’s reign, which imposed a significant resemblance and references to Roman and Greek ornamentation.

Neoclassical furniture is associated with Louis XVI style, which also strongly references ancient architecture. Notable and interesting are antique products in Rococo style and Louis XV. Next is Baroque, a term derived from the Portuguese 'barocco'—meaning an irregularly developed pearl. These were highly representative pieces designed to radiate splendor and play a significant role in luxury. Unique, selectively used materials were employed to further emphasize the grandeur of these works.

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