A rare American silver and enamelled 108 piece 'Lap-Over-Edge' flatware serviceTiffany & Co, New York, circa 1891, stamped 'M' for Edward Moore period (1873-1891) or 'T' for Charles Tiffany period (1892-1902), incuse stamped TIFFANY & CO / STERLING / PAT. 1880 The handles acid-etched and engraved with naturalistic flowers, foliage and others with geometric aesthetic style decoration, hand embellished with polychrome champlevé enamelling, the reverse mostly plain terminating with a script initial 'T', either engraved or etched in relief Comprising:-Thirty six dessert forks decorated with buttercups, daisies, roses, ferns, leaves and various abstract geometric patterns, consisting of: - twelve Moore period, engraved initial - twelve Tiffany period, in relief initial - twelve Tiffany period, in relief initial, the reverse of these with acid-etched foliage, the fronts with differing floral and leaf designs including primroses, thistles, pansies, violets, dahlias, sweet-peas, forget-me-nots and daisiesEighteen dessert spoons designs echoing the above, consisting of:- twelve Moore period, engraved initial- six Tiffany period, in relief initialEighteen large soup / chowder spoonsTiffany period, in relief initial, fronts featuring a broad range of flowers and foliage, including poppies, holly, nasturtiums, carnations, daffodils, blue iris, tulips, lily-of-the-valley, snow drops, amongst others, length 20.5cmEighteen dessert knives with gilt blades, incuse stamped '426', designs echoing the dessert spoons and forks, consisting of:- twelve Moore period, engraved initial - five Moore period, in relief initial - one Tiffany period, in relief initial Eighteen egg spoons with gilt bowls, designs echoing the dessert spoons, forks and knives, consisting of:- eight Moore period, engraved initial - eight Moore period, in relief initial - two Tiffany period, in relief initial weight excluding knives 157 ozweight of knives 37.5 oz. (108)Footnotes:Lot ResearchFor Tiffany & Co., 'Lap Over Edge' is often regarded as the most innovative silver flatware they ever produced. This opulent and ground-breaking design incorporates Japanese style naturalistic motifs, such as flora and fauna, animals and insects, and is in the aesthetic taste. It is not merely an imitation of Japanese decoration, but an adaptation of Japanese artistry and traditional techniques. This cross-cultural hybrid approach generated originality of form, creating a new and exciting experimental approach to silverwork. Tiffany & Co. broke with the rigidity of the past to create a new artistic sensibility, which was in turn both beautiful and functional. To therefore understand why 'Lap Over Edge' is regarded with such high esteem, and why the service on offer here is so rare, it is worth summarising its creation relative to Tiffany & Co.'s history. In 1837, Tiffany & Co. was founded in New York by Charles Louis Tiffany (1812-1902) and partners, as a luxury goods business (formerly known as 'Tiffany & Young', then 'Tiffany, Young & Ellis'). Around 1848, after forming close importing ties with Europe, Tiffany began to focus on two mercantile lines – silver and precious stones, which established the foundation for their future worldwide reputation. From 1847 to 1851, Tiffany retailed silver from several New York silversmiths, which included Henry Hebbard, Gale & Hughes, Wood & Hughes, and John C. Moore amongst others, with pieces they sold always stamped with the maker's mark and also that of Tiffany ('Tiffany, Young & Ellis' at that time). The demand in silverware increased, both for household and presentation pieces, which led Charles Tiffany and his partners to the decision that it made economic sense to bring the silver-manufacturing in-house. John C. Moore was their man of choice, who happened to be one of the finest silversmiths in New York at that time, working from his silver manufactory in Prince Street. Moore was to manufacture exclusively for Tiffany, but they still retailed silverware from other makers besides Moore. Moore was only making the hollow-ware during this period, with the flatware coming from outside makers. In 1853, Charles Tiffany gained total control of the firm on the retirement of his partners Young and Ellis, with the firm officially acquiring the name 'Tiffany & Co.'.Tiffany & Co. was soon regarded as the leading silverware house in New York, but what is of note is that in 1851, soon after the arrangement with John Moore was made, John retired and handed the reins over to his twenty-four-year-old son Edward Chandler Moore (1827-1891). Trained by his father, Edward Moore was a first-rate silversmith and designer, who had the eye and emotional response of an artist. In addition, he had the people skills to manage a silver workshop, combined with an innate entrepreneurial spirit. As a man he was a quiet visionary who did not encourage the limelight, and an educator who liked others to flourish under his leadership. It therefore made sense that in 1868, given the success and size Tiffany's had grown, that Edward Moore's silver manufactory was officially incorporated into Tiffany & Co. Moore was assigned chief designer and director of the firm's silverworks, serving from 1868 until his passing in 1891. Prior to the date of incorporation with Moore, Tiffany's silver was well made but rather conservative and traditional in form, following simple classical lines. The Civil War (fought between 1861 and 1865) negatively impacted many aspects of American life (which included silver design and production) and after such a grim period in the history of the United States, the American people desired change and a sense of newness; a departure from the old. For Moore, trips to Europe and specifically the 1867 Exposition Universelle opened that creative door. After Japanese ports reopened to trade with the West in 1854, shiploads of exotic oriental merchandise began pouring into France. In 1867, to nurture new business opportunities with the West, Japan decided to hold its first formal arts and crafts exhibition at the Paris Exposition Universelle, sharing their pavilion area with China and Siam. The exhibition attracted a great deal of international interest. Attended by Moore, Tiffany & Co.'s first trade show was held at this exhibition and was a relatively modest offering by European standards. To the astonishment of the established order, Tiffany & Co. won the bronze medal, which was the first time an American company had been awarded a medal by a foreign jury. For Moore, the exposure to International Exhibitions helped open up a world outside of the narrow constraints of America and Europe, and he became fascinated by the art which existed outside of the western canon. The possibilities of the exotic 'other', specifically Japanese inspired and 'Orientalism', fuelled his creativity. However, from a business point of view, Charles Tiffany and Edward Moore were also astute enough to know that for the company to achieve financial success, they needed to expand internationally and offer silver that was artistically unique. International Exhibitions and their capacity for worldwide exposure and creative input, were the ideal marketing tool for an American company with big ambitions. Therefore, in response to what he had seen in 1867, Moore began to assemble a significant collection of non-Western art and artefacts, to both educate and inspire Tiffany's designers and craftsmen. Over the following years he acquired over 2000 objects..... 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