A 30-piece enamel and silver-gilt demitasse set by 11th Artel

This magnificent set is comprised of ten demitasse cups, ten saucers, and ten teaspoons. Produced by the 11^th Artel between 1908 and 1917, this ten-person service epitomises the very best of early 20^th-Century Russian design and craftsmanship. The pieces are silver-gilt, all 30 are marked on their bases (or the stems of the spoons) with the mark of the 11^th Artel, silver marks, and export marks.

The central register of each saucer is decorated with symmetrical Art Nouveau foliate and geometrical motifs executed in polychrome champlevé enamels. This is surrounded by a band in monochrome guilloché enamel over engine turned engraving, bordered by a rim featuring plique-à-jour enamelling over a dappled silver ground. The decorative composition of each saucer differs: the motifs executed in guilloché and plique-à-jour enamel vary and the colour palette of each is individual. Each saucer is accompanied by a similarly decorated and complementary demitasse cup. The lowest register of each cup features champlevé polychrome enamelling wrought into scrolling foliate motifs; the middle register of each contains a wide band of guilloché enamel; the top register is executed in plique-à-jour enamel over a dappled silver ground. The handle of each cup features a thumb rest. Each spoon is decorated using champlevé, guilloché, and plique-à-jour enamelling techniques in a scheme that complements the saucers and cups.

The colour palette used throughout the entire ensemble is striking: bold, unmoderated tones of blue, green, pink, and orange predominate, all utilised in a manner that complements the warm silver-gilt of the set.

Saucers: Height 2cm, diameter 10.5cm
Cups: Height 5.5cm, width 8cm, depth 5.5cm
Spoons: Length 10.5cm, width 2cm