Exquisite 3pc 1800s American Coin / Sterling Silver Tea Set Ramsay Crest

Presented is a fantastic quality American sterling and coin silver 3pc tea set. This is an interesting set, consisting of one older piece, the sugar bowl, which was made by Philadelphia maker Chaudron's & Rasch in coin silver, circa 1810. The other two pieces were made later in sterling silver to match this original piece, though these pieces are still antique, dating to the late 1800s or very early 1900s. We believe these two pieces are by Gorham, who did a lot of custom work to order, but we aren't sure. Regardless, all three pieces are made in the exact same early American style, rectangular urn form bodies on stepped pedestal bases. Each piece features a band of foliate scrollwork and rosette medallion decoration around the shoulder with a textured background, as well as a smaller border of leaves around the foot. The teapot has a finely carved handle in rich dark wood, which has a matching leaf border in the silver where it joins the body, top and bottom, which is a nice touch. The pieces are spotlessly clean inside. All three pieces are engraved on one broad side with an armorial crest of an eagle displayed inside a rose border, charged with a unicorn's head erased, with a banner beneath bearing the motto “Semper Victor,” associated with the Ramsay name, particularly Sir John Ramsay, Baronet Whitehill. This set consists of: Teapot—8 5/8 inches to top of finial, 10 1/2 inches from handle to spout. Capacity of 6 cups (48 fluid ounces/1.4 liters). creamer—6 1/4 inches tall. sugar—7 5/8 inches to top of finial, 7 5/8 inches from handle to handle. The oldest piece, the sugar bowl, is stamped on the underside with the maker's mark for Chaudron's & Rasch. The other two pieces are stamped sterling and with a number, 3127A. This set is in great overall condition. There is some wear to the band of decoration around the shoulder and the crest, particularly on the older piece (the sugar bowl), though these have some smoothing of detail on the teapot and creamer, possibly deliberately to more closely match the original piece. There is a tiny hole around the rim of the sugar bowl, barely more than a pinprick, but this is so high up it will not result in spilling sugar and is quite hard to notice without close, careful inspection. There are no splits, no dents, no monogram removals, and no repairs. The total weight for the set is 1721 grams or 60.7 regular ounces. -jm