Accession Number
1979/2.88.2

Title
Sugar bowl with lid, from 3-piece tea service

Artist(s)
Wiener Werkst

Object Creation Date
circa 1905-1915

Medium & Support
silver on bone handles and finials

Dimensions
2 15/16 in x 3 ⅜ in x 3 ⅛ in (7.46 cm x 8.57 cm x 7.94 cm);2 15/16 in x 3 ⅜ in x 3 ⅛ in (7.46 cm x 8.57 cm x 7.94 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mr. William Muschenheim

Label copy
March 28, 2009
The crafts produced by the Wiener Werkstätte in Vienna were made in the spirit of reintroducing the aesthetic of hand-made crafts in a period of mass-produced wares. The workshop focused on jewelry, fabrics, ceramic, pottery, and furniture; their style was one of beautiful and simple modern design and outstanding craftsmanship, and their products were made for a select audience rather than for mass consumption.
This tea service for one exemplifies the high quality design characteristic of the Wiener Werkstätte. The lobed shapes of the teapot, sugar bowl, and creamer have a hand-fashioned surface that is a hallmark of the silver made by the firm. The bone or ivory handles, which are similarly shaped, are set on the vessels at a right angle from the customary placement.

Subject matter
The crafts produced by the Weiner Werkstätte in Vienna were developed to reintroduce the aesthetic of hand-made works in a period of mass-produced wares. The workshop focused on creating jewelry, fabrics, ceramic, pottery, and furniture; their style was one of beautiful and simple modern design and outstanding craftsmanship. Their work was made for a select audience rather than to be popularized for mass consumption.

Physical Description
One of a three-piece tea service, the sugar bowl is a small silver container with a lobed shape and a flat lid with a bone finial. The finial is carved into four lobes to match the body of the pot. The surface of the silver is not glassy-smooth; it has a hand-worked, hammered surface. The overall design impression is of satisfying geometric proportions with a slightly organic feel.

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
tea service

Additional Object Classification(s)
Silver

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
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Keywords
silverwork
sugar bowls