An exceptional and ingeniously designed antique French traveling tea and coffee service by the celebrated Parisian silversmith Gustave Keller, featuring a beautifully proportioned silver-plated vessel with a genuine ivory handle and a cleverly engineered, removable heating base. This remarkable portable set comprises a lidded tea or coffee pot, a separate coffee or tea canister, a removable heating element and base, and additional fitted components, all designed to nest and stack neatly within the main vessel for convenient travel. The ingenious arrangement allows the entire service to be transported as a compact, self-contained ensemble. The pieces display the refined craftsmanship and attention to detail associated with fine French luxury silverware of the period. Particularly attractive features include the substantial circular ivory handle, polished silver surfaces, fitted lids, decorative detailing, and the ingenious construction of the heating mechanism. The pieces bear the Gustave Keller, Paris maker's mark, including the distinctive G.K. mark incorporating a face, identifying this as the work of an important French luxury silversmith. Keller was awarded the gold medal at the 1867, 1889 and 1900 Paris International Expositions.
A wonderfully conceived and increasingly uncommon example of French traveling tableware, representing the elegance and ingenuity of an era when even the pleasures of tea and coffee were accompanied by beautifully crafted personal accessories. An exceptional collector's piece, both for its aesthetic appeal and its ingenious mechanical design.
Very good condition. As you can see, there is wear/loss to the silver plating on the exterior of the pot though most of the other pieces that have been stored within are nearly pristine. No cracks or repairs to the solid circular ivory handle. See pictures for all measurements.
