DALLAS – A Vienna-made Josef Hoffmann four-piece tea service sold for $112,500 in Heritage Auctions’ spring silver and objects of vertu auction April 28 in Dallas. The auction surpassed $614,000 on interest in full service sets and hard-to-find Tiffany silver figures designed by Gene Moore.

“We’re seeing increasing competition for large tea and coffee services, as young collectors consider their sculptural merits” said Karen Rigdon, director of silver and decorative arts at Heritage.

A Fabregé silver gilt cigarette case – decorated with the Romanov double eagle coat of arms set in diamonds – which was an important contribution to a 1977 exhibition titled “The Works of Carl Fabergé the celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee at the Victoria and Albert Museum,” sold for $52,500.

Silver sets were in high demand as a seven-piece tea and coffee service by the Californian silversmith Porter Blanchard tea and coffee service, made in about 1930, sold for $27,500, and an 84-piece flatware service in the Aztec pattern, made in about 1950 by Hector Aguilar, ended at $22,500 following interest from six bidders. A set of 12 Garrards silver plates, made in London between 1846 and 1847, sold for $13,750.

A 10-lot, 19-figure collection of Italian crafted silver circus figures designed by Gene Moore for Tiffany & Co. sold for a combined $58,612. The selection was led by a rare Elephant and Performer set, which closed at $16,250, and an Elephant and Drum, which sold for $11,875. The figures, standing not more than 5 1/5 inches high.

An imposing Lee Ching Chinese Export Silver standing covered cup, complete on an upholstered stand with carved wood base, sold for $11,875, to a bidder in China. Heavy with symbolism, the cup featured a cast dragon head-form finial and flanked by stylized scrolling dragon-form handles.