Aesthetic French Silver Bachelor Teaset with Japonaiserie Decoration

• Hallmarks - A mark stamped on articles of precious metals in Britain, since the 14th century, certifying their purity. It derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay (test the purity) and mark articles of gold and silver.
  
  The hallmark will consist of several marks, including the:
  
  - silver standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal. Sterling silver is .925 pure silver.
  
  - the city mark indicating the city in which it was assayed eg London, Birmingham, York etc.
  
  - the date mark, usually a letter of the alphabet in a particular font and case,
  
  - a duty mark, indicating whether duty had been paid to the crown, and only in use from 1784 to 1890
  
  The piece may include an additional mark, the maker's mark, although not forming part of the hallmark, will be located in the vicinity of the hallmarks.
  
  Sometimes silver plated items will bear faux hallmarks, often confusing those not familiar with silver markings.
• Faux - A French word meaning "false", but when used in decorative arts, the intention is not to deceive, but to simulate the decorative effects of the more expensive material it is imitating. The term " faux bois" meaning "false wood" refers to a furniture item that has been decorated with a marked grain (woodgrain finish)  to imitate a more expensive timber.
• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Japonaise - In 1853, Japan ended the long period of self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world and trade with Europe and America gradually developed. Impetus was given by the Meiji Revolution of 1867-8 which began the ruthless Westernization of Japan. As the Japanese enthusiastically embraced all things western, there was a corresponding appreciation of traditional Japanese art forms in the west. This led to traditional Japanese designs being incorporated into furniture, ceramics, and silverware in the third quarter of the 19th century.
  
  Examples of the Japanese influence are Japanese motifs, faux bamboo, fretwork and lacquer work.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Aesthetic movement - silverware 25
• tea sets/services
  • silver, bachelor's three piece 388
  • silver, French 13
• Veyrat, Jean Francois (France) - silver, maker or retailer 7