Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Gilt Cream Jug and Sugar Bowl, John Wilmin Figg, London 1858

A finely crafted Victorian sterling silver cream jug and sugar bowl set by London silversmith John Wilmin Figg, fully hallmarked for London 1858. Both pieces have richly gilded interiors and engraved decoration arranged around central cartouches, with interlaced geometric borders and scrolling floral ornament. Each piece is engraved with the initials M.M. and the date 1859, giving the set an appealing sense of personal history while preserving its elegant mid-Victorian character.

Details

Item: Antique cream jug and sugar bowl set
Maker: John Wilmin Figg
Origin: London, England
Date / Period: Hallmarked London 1858, Victorian era
Material: Sterling silver with gilt interiors
Silver Purity: Sterling silver, .925 standard
Hallmarks: Full London assay marks with maker’s mark I.F. for John Wilmin Figg
Decoration: Engraved floral scrollwork, central cartouches and interlaced geometric borders
Engraving: Initials M.M. and date 1859 on both pieces
Cream Jug: Approximately 4.5 cm high × 6 cm diameter
Sugar Bowl: Approximately 5 cm high × 9.5 cm diameter
Total Weight: 186 grams

Condition

Excellent antique condition. Both pieces have been personally inspected and are free from dents and cracks. The gilded interiors remain particularly attractive. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Historical and Collector Context

John Wilmin Figg was an established London silversmith active during the Victorian period. Born around 1811, he was apprenticed to the manufacturing silversmith William Elliott in 1826, gained his freedom in 1833 and registered his first mark in 1834 from an address in Clerkenwell. His recorded work includes tea services, claret jugs, cruet stands and other table silver, with examples represented in recognised collections including the British Museum.

This matching sterling silver cream jug and sugar bowl are especially appealing because they retain their original relationship as a pair. The gilt interiors, carefully engraved decoration and dated initials give the set greater character than two unrelated pieces of table silver. The 1859 engraving suggests that the set may originally have been presented to mark a personal occasion, although the precise history is not known.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description. We are happy to provide further details or images on request.