Photo Credit: Antiques-by-Sue-and-Otis-Moore
British Sterling Silver Edwardian Monteith or Punch Bowl
Buy It Now Price: $799.99 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Downton Abbey elegance is on display with this sterling silver Edwardian monteith, or punch bowl, produced during Great Britain’s Gilded Age.
-This Edwardian monteith measures 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall by 8.125 inches (20.6 cm) wide; it is not a small piece. The bowl also weighs an impressive 700 grams or 22.51 troy ounces, a clear indicator of its high quality.
-Monteiths – large silver bowls with distinctively scalloped edges – were first made in the 1680s. They were originally used to cool wine glasses by filling the monteith with ice and slotting the wine glass stems into the bowl’s crenulated rim.
-By the 20th century, monteiths had largely evolved to become ice holders or punch bowls – functions they still excel at today. If filled with ice, a sterling silver monteith would also do a great job of chilling a few beers or carbonated beverages at your next intimate soiree.
– Like most British sterling silver, this Edwardian monteith is fully hallmarked, a feature that is always appreciated by antique silver collectors and investors alike. The piece was made in London in 1910 by Harrison Brothers & Howson. Interestingly, the firm of Harrison Brothers & Howson Ltd is still making sterling silver goods today!
-With silver currently trading at $16.97 per troy ounce, this Edwardian monteith contains $353 worth of the precious metal. That means the buy-it-now price of $800 represents a modest 127% premium over the item’s intrinsic value. This is a shockingly low premium considering the superb quality and heavy gauge construction of this 100 plus year old sterling silver masterpiece.
-I love this punch bowl’s chased and repoussé decoration. It manages to be both streamlined and opulent all at once, making the piece a magnificent example of graceful Edwardian style rendered in solid sterling silver.
-Antique sterling silver flatware and hollowware is one of the most undervalued areas of the antique market right now. This Edwardian monteith represents an unusual opportunity to invest in a classic piece of sterling silver that is both functional and desirable. And if the $800 asking price is too much for your wallet, you can always make the seller a lower offer!
Cons:
-Some people are put off by antique silver because they believe it to be too stuffy or formal for regular use. But I think sterling silver works just as well in informal settings or relaxed gatherings as plastic cups and paper plates. And it looks a whole lot better doing it!
-People living in small apartments or condos might have difficulty finding the room to store this relatively large sterling silver punch bowl. Alas, this is one of the few downsides of collecting antique sterling silver!
