Fine French Cased Gilt Silverplate Christopher Dresser Traveling Tea Set, from an 1879 design by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904), manufactured by Adolphe Boulanger, working Paris, 1869-1899, retailed by Maison Maquet, Paris, including a kettle-on-collapsible-stand (Dresser's shape #2110), h. 9", teapot (Dresser's shape #2109), dia. 3-1/2", spirit burner, dia. 3", cream jug, h. 1-7/8", sugar bowl, dia. 2-3/4", bottle, h. 3-1/2", double tea caddy, dia. 3-1/4", and a pair of teaspoons, l. 4-3/4", along with a pair of Royal Worcester lavender teacups and saucers, 1912-1926, the original bow-style sugar tongs lacking but replaced by pincer-style tongs of later date, all nesting together to fit in a small suede-lined, fitted leather case, h. 7", w. 11-1/2", d. 6", each piece and the case monogrammed "EC". The design of this set, inspired by his 1876-1877 visit to Japan, was one of Dresser's most popular. It was packaged by several retailers including Asprey of London and Leuchars of Paris. This unusual entirely gilt set was sold by Maison Maquet, a Parisian leather goods specialty shop, listed in 1900 on rue de la Paix and in 1904 at Avenue de l'Opera; they also exhibited at the 1914 Panama Pacific International Exhibition in San Francisco. For illustrations of the same model packaged into similar traveling or picnic sets, see Henry Lyons, Christopher Dresser: The People's Designer, 1834-1904 (Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collector's Club, 2005), p. 202, plate 386; Michael Whiteway, Christopher Dresser, 1834-1904 (Milan: Skira, 2001), an exhibition catalogue from the Palazzo della Trienalle, Milan, October 2001-March 2002, p. 88, plate 68; and Stuart Durant, Christopher Dresser (London: Academy Editions, 1993), p. 96.

The kettle with a shallow, small (approximately 1"), horizontal dent and a very soft depression adjacent to the spout. The teapot with an extremely short and soft depression on the reverse. Woven leather in both examples in fine condition. The caddy in very good condition with rubbing on the underside from normal use. The bottle, creamer, sugar, spoons, replaced tongs, burner and stand all in excellent condition. Both cups in very good condition with one exhibiting overall craquelure on underside of saucer and interior of cup. The interior of the case with usual staining and wear to suede. The exterior of the case with usual wear, slight scuffing and rubbing. The left latch lacking a pin that attaches it to the case. The handle worn from use and with a slight tear on the left side. An extraordinary lot in extremely good condition.