Adolf Sper: 19th Century Russian Sterling Silver And Silver-gilt Creamer Or Small Jug.

Superb Russian solid silver creamer dating from the first third of the 19th century.

It rests on a small molded pedestal. The body is decorated with large gadroons forming a symmetrical motif, topped with a frieze of flowers and foliage. A frieze of palmettes highlights the opening.
The sculpted handle provides a comfortable grip.

It is initialed VW under the spout.

The interior is in light silver gilt.

The jug is hallmarked:
. 84, the Russian fineness mark for 84 zolotniki silver, or 875/°°
. Assayer's mark MK with the date 1833
. Maker's mark: A. Sper in English script
. Mark of the city of Saint Petersburg

. Later French control mark with a swan.

Adolf Sper was a silversmith born in Finland in 1799. He arrived in Saint Petersburg during the 1810s and became a master in 1829.
The silversmith's mark inscribed in English script is rare for this silversmith; I have not found it elsewhere. It is probably a first mark, a hypothesis confirmed by the early date of the assayer's mark. Pieces are generally found dating from the 1840s.

This is a very fine piece of quality, by a renowned and sought-after silversmith.

15.5 cm long
7.5 cm wide
10.5 cm high, excluding the handle

237 grams gross

Hand delivery in Paris or insured Colissimo shipping.
France: €15
Europe: €20
Worldwide: €35