19th c. HANDMADE PERSIAN SILVER ISFAHAN QALAMZANI TEA SET by MASTER SILVERSMITH

Description

ANTIQUE HANDMADE PERSIAN SILVER ISFAHAN QALAMZANI TEA SET by MASTER SILVERSMITH
Signed Martin, who had a very well known workshop that carried out his name in Isfahan (he also spelled it Marteen).
He was famous for offering masterpieces of Iranian silverware for sale around the late 19th century in the historical city of Isfahan which was considered and for many centuries to be the main link & also a very important commercial center between the Eastern & Western worlds.  Isfahan was also the ancient capital city of the Safavid dynasty.
Martin (Marteen) worked as a silversmith, engraver and mainly retailer of fine Persian silverware.  He employed the best silversmiths in the city & he also commissioned the most talented metal engravers in Isfahan to do certain jobs for him such as the master Ebraheem Daeizadeh who was thought to be one of the best metal engravers in Isfahan and who have also probably worked for Jaffar.  The detail and quality of the workmanship all indicates this.
Martin offered pieces that bear his mark but have not been necessarily or originally made by him personally, but by other craftsman (the same principal applies to the workshop of Eamal Jaffar), then he used to offer those commissioned masterpieces afterwards for sale to the elite of Persian society such as the royal family, members of foreign embassies in Persia, westerners who had visited Persia and also for the exportation of fine Persian silverware outside Persia, especially to the western markets to fulfill the demand of western customers who loved to possess fine pieces of Persian  metalwork.
This piece is no exception.  If you look at the fine incredible detail, especially on the teapot where the lion is eating the gazelle, it is exceptional work.  All of the pieces are simply gorgeous and in excellent condition.  These are truly museum quality.
All tested as 925, though it could be a hair less or even a little more.  My testing solution does not give me the exact grade other than 925 sterling silver.
Teapot weighs 581 grams
Sugar weighs 408 grams
Creamer weighs 274 grams
Total weight  1263 grams (44.55 regular ounces or 2.78 lbs.).
If you have questions, prior to purchase please feel free to ask.
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THJ - A35
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