Tea and coffee set

ARTIST / MAKER: George Angell & Co. (maker, ? - George Angell & Co. operated from ca.1850 so need to double check marks for maker and date)
DATE: 1849 (made)
PLACE: England (made)
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES: Silver, ivory insulators
COLLECTION NUMBER: 181

This tea and coffee set comprises a teapot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl and was made by George Angell, part of the Angell family of silversmiths who together became one of the largest and most important silver and jewellery manufacturers and retailers in London in the mid-19th century. They participated in many major exhibitions worldwide and won many awards for excellence. George Angell was the nephew of the original founder Joseph Angell, and created his own branch of the business with his brother John Charles Angell in 1840. After John’s death in 1850 George continued the business, which became George Angell & Co. (1852-1860). George Angell participated in the 1851 Great Exhibition with a large vase in the ‘Etruscan style’ and other silverware. The shape and design of this set is inspired by gothic forms and architecture, which would have appealed to contemporary taste due to the revival of the gothic style in Victorian England. The company made many tea and coffee services in variations of this design.