1785 Superb French 950 Silver Side Handle Chocolate/Coffee Pot

Description

Presented is a superb French first standard silver side handle chocolate, tea or coffee pot. It's worth noting that French first standard is 950 purity, a higher standard than sterling which is 925. This piece dates to 1785. The pot is done in a classical baluster form, standing on three hoof form feet. Above each foot is an oval shell-topped design. The pot has a finely turned wooden handle, which can be unscrewed from its mounting. The pot is quite sturdy and well constructed, made from thick, heavy gauge silver with a nice feeling of weight.
This piece is in great condition. There are no leaks, no splits, no monograms, no monogram removals, and no repairs. There is a slight dent to the front at the bottom of the body, but this is hardly noticeable. Please note that the handle unscrews in the opposite direction than what you'd expect.
The underside of the pot is stamped with the Paris large article charge mark of a crowned A, used from 1783-1789, the Maison Commune crowned P mark dated 1785, a maker's mark of CPN, as well as later marks: a guarantee mark of a man's face in a circular punch, the French first standard silver mark of a rooster with the number 1, for 950 purity silver, and what looks like a boar's head mark for 950 purity silver. The crowned P and the crowned A are repeated inside the lid. The interior lip of the lid also has the man's face in a round punch dated 85, the boar's head mark, and an eagle's head mark for 950 purity. The eagle's head also appears on the exterior rim, beneath the lid.
The pot stands about 8 1/4 inches tall.
The pot weighs 617 grams total, including the wooden handle. With the handle unscrewed, the pot weighs 591 grams or 20.8 regular ounces, all silver.
-jm
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