Victorian Sterling Silver Penguin Claret Jug

• Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
• Victorian Period - The Victorian period of furniture and decorative arts design covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. There was not one dominant style of furniture in the Victorian period. Designers used and modified many historical styles such as Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others, although use of some styles, such as English Rococo and Gothic tended to dominate the furniture manufacture of the period.
  
  The Victorian period was preceded by the Regency and William IV periods, and followed by the Edwardian period, named for Edward VII (1841 ? 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910.
• Pressed Glass - Pressed glass is a type of glassware that is produced by pressing molten glass into a mould. This manufacturing process involves using a mould to shape and form the glass while it is still in a semi-liquid or molten state. The glass is pressed into the mould to take on its design and texture.
  
  The use of moulds allows for the mass production of glass items with consistent designs. Pressed glass became popular in the 19th century as a more economical alternative to hand-blown glass, as it allowed for faster and more efficient production. This method was widely used for creating various glass objects, including dishes, bowls, vases, and decorative items.
  
  Pressed glass can have intricate patterns and designs, and it has been used for both utilitarian and decorative purposes. While it may not have the same artisanal quality as hand-blown glass, pressed glass has its own charm and has been a significant part of glassware history.
  
  

• Engraving - The method of decorating or creating inscriptions on silver and other metal objects by marking the surface with a sharp instrument such as a diamond point or rotating cutting wheel.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• jugs, claret and wine - silver items 243
• Sampson, Mordan & Co. (England) - decorative items 86
• wine ewers - silver items 243