Solid Silver Sauce Boat By Wilhelm Weinranck, Hanau, Late 19th Century

Solid silver sauce boat by Wilhelm Weinranck, Hanau, late 19th century Superb solid silver sauce boat in the late Rococo style, resting on a large, removable, unscrewable tray, the whole richly decorated with finely chased foliage, scrolls, and floral bouquets. This piece was made in Hanau around 1880–1900 by the famous silversmith Wilhelm Weinranck, whose hallmark appears under the base. Weinranck is renowned for the quality of his works in the historicist style, produced for a European bourgeois and aristocratic clientele. The ovoid, flared, and eventful body rests on a solid pedestal. The very fluid spout is delicately chased with shells and floral motifs in slight relief. The console handle, a true ornamental focal point, is surmounted by a winged sphinx, a mythological female figure embodying wisdom and protection. This detail reinforces the symbolic and protective dimension of the object. The oval tray, finely pierced and engraved, perfectly matches the contour of the sauce boat. It is fixed by a removable screw system, allowing the piece to be dismantled for maintenance or presentation. The whole is entirely made of white silver, without interior gilding, in accordance with the customs of German goldsmithing of this period. Characteristics: • Origin: Hanau, Germany • Period: Late 19th century (circa 1880–1900) • Goldsmith: Wilhelm Weinranck (hallmark visible) • Material: Solid silver • Total weight: 684 g • Dimensions: Length 23 cm – Width 16 cm – Height 16 cm • Decoration: Rocaille, foliage, shells, winged female sphinx • Structure: Unscrewable and removable tray • Function: Prestigious service element for a large bourgeois or aristocratic table