Property of WILLIAM J. HILL & CATTLE COMPANY

A PAIR OF SILVER PEPPER CASTERS AND A PAIR OF DOUBLE SALTS WITH FOUR SALT SPOONS FROM THE MACKAY SERVICE

MAKER'S MARK OF TIFFANY & CO., NEW YORK, 1878

Details

A PAIR OF SILVER PEPPER CASTERS AND A PAIR OF DOUBLE SALTS WITH FOUR SALT SPOONS FROM THE MACKAY SERVICE
maker's mark of tiffany & co., new york, 1878
The casters each baluster-form, with shaped handle and gilt pierced cover; the double salts with bail handle, each with stylized foliate decoration and applied initials MLM and the Hungerford arms, casters marked 4899/5635, salts 4900/5635
casters 3¾in. high, salts 4 5/8in. long; gross weight 19oz. (8)

Provenance

John W. and Marie Louise (Hungerford) Mackay
John W. Mackay III, grandson
Thence by descent
Christie's, June 25, 1991, lot 13

Lot Essay

These salts and casters belonged to the famous Mackay dinner service, Tiffany's largest commission, made for John W. Mackay, who discovered the Comstock Lode in 1873. The Comstock Lode was the biggest silver mine in history when Mackay struck, and his wife thought it appropriate to devote thousands of ounces of silver bullion to a grand service for 24 people. Tiffany's spent years in its creation, and exhibited the entire 305 objects and 918 pieces of flatware at the Paris Exposition of 1878, where it received a great deal of press. It was designed by Charles Grosjean in the "Indian," or Persian style.