Plique-a-jour Enamel Cup and Saucer by Marius Hammer
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plique-a-jour enamel and gilt-silver cup and saucer, Marius hammer, circa 1900, the body of each comprised of bands of geometric, floral and scrolling enamelled cells in shades of translucent red, green, purple and turquoise, each centring a red guilloche enamel disk, the base of both stamped with maker's mark for Marius hammer, 930S, cup 6.5 cm diameter, saucer 10.5 cm diameter. Provenance: John Jaffa Antiques, London. Private collection, New South Wales, acquired from the above, other notes, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from John Jaffa Antiques
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- Guilloche - A form of classical decoration consisting of a repeating ornament of interlacing curved bands, sometimes forming circles, and further decorated with rosettes or other flower forms.
The name is derived from the inventor, French engineer Guillot, who invented a mechanical method of inscribing fine repeating patterns on to metallic surfaces.
On enamelled items with guilloche decoration, the surface is firstly engraved with the repeating pattern, and then covered with several layers of enamel, each of which is fired.
Where the item has not been enamelled the form of decoration is usually called "engine turned". - 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.
- Plique-A-Jour - Plique a jour, which translates from the French as ?glimpse of daylight? is a method of enamelling in which the backing is removed or cut away so the light shines through, with a similar effect to a stained glass window. The enamel is held in place by border.
Although the technique of plique-a-jour has been known and in use since the 6th century, it became popular again in the late 19th century, in Russia and Scandinavia. Plique-a-jour was popular in the Art Nouveau period, especially for jewellery.
Because of the length of time required to produce an item, and the high failure rate, production was limited, and the technique is little used today.
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