Silver tea set

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This silver tea set, dated 1892, was made by R. & W. Sorley in Glasgow. The set consists of a teapot, a hot water jug, a sugar bowl and a milk jug. All the items in the set are fashioned in the shape of a thistle head.

Silver teapot with a thistle head shaped body, by R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow, 1892, part of a four piece thistle-shaped tea-set

The use of the thistle as a Scottish emblem reached some extraordinary expressive heights in the late Victorian period. From the purely decorative to the expensively practical, silver design was inspired by many different sources.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-787-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEQ 1607 D
• Date: 1892
  1892
  1892
  1892
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: On body: RS / WS [in 4-lobed punch]; tree, bell, fish [and] bird; lion rampant; V; on base: SORLEY / SILVERSMITHS / GLASGOW
  Silver. Inscription: On rim: RS / WS [in 4-lobed punch]; tree, bell, fish [and] bird; lion rampant; V; on base: SORLEY / SILVERSMITHS / GLASGOW
  Silver. Inscription: RS / WS [in 4-lobed punch]; tree, bell, fish [and] bird; lion rampant; V; SORLEY / SILVERSMITHS / GLASGOW
  Silver. Inscription: RS / WS [in 4-lobed punch]; tree, bell, fish [and] bird; lion rampant; V; SORLEY / SILVERSMITHS / GLASGOW
  Bowl, sugar
  Jug, cream / jug, milk
  Jug, hot water
  Teapot
  
• Dimensions: 140 mm H x 210 mm L x 127 mm D
  176 mm H x 140 mm L x 115 mm body D
  90 mm H x 94 mm L x 65 mm body D
  97 mm H x 145 mm L x 95 mm D
  
• What: Bowl, sugar
  Jug, cream / jug, milk
  Jug, hot water
  Teapot
  
• Subject: Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow (Silversmith)
  R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow (Silversmith)
  R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow (Silversmith)
  R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow (Silversmith)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver hot water jug by R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow, 1892, part of a four piece thistle-shaped tea-set
  Silver sugar bowl with two opposing applied handles, by R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow, 1892, part of a four piece thistle-shaped tea-set
  Silver cream or milk jug with an applied handle, by R. and W. Sorley, Glasgow, 1892, part of a four piece thistle-shaped tea-set
  
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