Florence, 1800–1830, Solid Silver, Egg Cup Holder, Empire Style

Double egg cup holder in silver and vermeil
Florence, 19th century, Empire style

Partially gilded solid silver set comprising two removable egg cups on a central-handled stand, a salt shaker, and a salt spoon in vermeil.

The contoured base, narrowed at its center, holds two egg cups on pedestals, secured by circular rings adorned with a finely chased frieze. Their smooth bowls, edged with fluting, feature a vermeil interior. A shell-shaped salt shaker, also gilded and accompanied by its vermeil salt spoon, completes the set.

The central stem is topped by an openwork handle formed of two stylized dolphins facing each other, whose curved bodies form a ring. Their heads frame a sphere, while foliage and a rosette embellish the junction with the stem.

The simplicity of the polished surfaces, the balanced proportions, and the decoration featuring dolphins and foliage are characteristic of the Empire style. The alternation of white silver and gilded sections highlights the various elements of this piece, designed for serving soft-boiled eggs.
Egg cup holders are fairly common in Great Britain but extremely rare on the continent.

Florentine hallmark depicting a seated lion above the letter F.

Height: 17 cm.
Width: 13 cm.
Weight: 275 g.