Coffee service Symphony 925 silver & porcelain — 17 pieces in case for 6 people, lily filigree

The "Symphonie" service is a 17-piece premium coffee and tea set for six people, made from 925 sterling silver combined with fine porcelain from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in Saint Petersburg. The teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, six cups, six teaspoons, lemon fork, and sugar scoop feature openwork lily filigree in 925 silver, accented by acanthus volutes in the Neoclassical style. The recessed reliefs are antiqued. Delivered in a velvet-lined navy blue case.

What do you give a couple for their silver wedding anniversary, whose display cabinet still holds their grandparents' porcelain service and who have made Sunday afternoon a family tradition? Or a mother on her 70th birthday, who has hosted family gatherings her whole life and for whom an ordinary gift simply won't do? Or a daughter who has moved into the house her mother-in-law gave up – as an heirloom with its own dignity? This service is made for these tables.

What makes this Symphony service special

The filigree openwork is the heart of this service. Unlike full-surface silver-mantled sets, the silver body here does not cover the porcelain — it allows lilies and acanthus tendrils to stand as sculptural ornaments against the white porcelain. The porcelain shines through the filigree, the silver breathes, each cup appears like a small sculpture on its own base. The six mocha cups, each 155 milliliters, are designed for intense, concentrated salon gatherings — not for hurried morning coffee, but for long afternoons where tea or mocha are sipped slowly because the vessel demands it. Weighing 1.4 kilograms of silver and porcelain, the entire service rests solidly on the table — made for six settings, made to last.

The Lily as a Table Symbol

Since the Middle Ages, the lily in European iconography has symbolized purity, dignity, and noble aspiration. The French Bourbon lily, the Florentine city lily, the Marian lily of Christian iconography — all adopt the same stylized six-pointed shape as a heraldic emblem. On this service, the lily motif runs consistently across all 17 pieces: as a sculptural high relief on the cup sleeves, as a crowning element on the stem ends of the spoons, the lemon fork, and the sugar scoop, and as a recurring element in the base of the teapot and sugar bowl. Embedded in acanthus volutes and openwork tendril ornaments, a Neoclassical overall impression with Art Nouveau accents is created — table representation that is not loud, but is seen.

925 Silver, Imperial Porcelain, and Antique Patination

The silver body is made of 925 sterling, cast as fine filigree openwork and highly polished on the raised surfaces. The porcelain comes from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in Saint Petersburg, founded in 1744 by Empress Elizabeth — still one of the few manufactories worldwide that fires hard-paste porcelain according to classical recipes. On this service, it is white ribbed porcelain with a fine platinum rim on the upper edge of the cups and the pot.

Regarding the finishing: The recessed reliefs are antiqued. A thin superficial blackening sits in the fine tendrils and acanthus lines of the filigree and emphasizes the sculptural play of the lily motif. This ArgentA-typical patination is not niello inlay — niello is another Russian technique with melted black sulfur-silver paste, typical for the SevChern manufactory from Veliky Ustyug. This service features a superficial layer that serves two functions: it gives the piece the appearance of an antique salon heirloom, and it acts as a protective layer against further tarnishing of the surrounding silver. It does not disappear with everyday use — the raised areas can be carefully re-polished with a silver polishing cloth, while the recesses retain their depth and thus the sculptural effect of the filigree. When cleaning the filigree, keep it dust-free with a soft brush. Storage in the included case protects against air contact and slows down the natural tarnishing of the silver.

For what occasion this 6-person service is made

✦ Silver wedding anniversary (25 years) or Golden wedding anniversary (50 years) — the lily as a symbol of pure union, six places for the whole family at one table.
✦ Round birthday with extended family — 60th, 70th, 80th — when a mother, grandmother, or mother-in-law deserves a gift that honors her table traditions.
✦ Family heirloom from mother to daughter — when the mother-in-law gives up her home and the service is to be passed on to the next generation, with the dignity of an entire life phase.
✦ Welcome gift for a home with salon traditions — where the Sunday gathering regularly fills six or more places and the service is not just in the display cabinet, but on the table.
✦ Premium gift for the hostess — for the one who has dedicated her life to family entertaining and to whom you want to give a piece that recognizes her role.

Engraving upon request

If you would like to personalize the service — with a date, initials, dedication, family name, or a family crest — please contact us before placing your order. We will clarify with the manufacturer which surfaces are suitable for the desired engraving and coordinate the font, depth, and position with you. For engravings, we include a complimentary SilverVerse card (10 × 15 cm) with a personalized dedication.

Care of the Silver-Porcelain Service

Hand wash with lukewarm water and mild dish soap, no dishwasher, no silver dip — both would alter the antique patination in the fine filigree recesses. The porcelain interior is resistant to coffee and tea, but should be dried and put away after use. The polished silver high surfaces and the openwork lily ornaments can be refreshed at any time with a soft silver polishing cloth — the patinated recesses will remain dark because the cloth does not reach the fine lines. For filigree cleaning, keep dust-free with a soft brush. Storage in the provided case protects against air contact and slows down the natural tarnishing of the silver.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Symphony Service

What is included in the set?
Seventeen pieces for six people: one teapot (800 ml), one sugar bowl (390 ml), one milk jug (270 ml), six mocha cups with porcelain interiors and silver filigree sleeves (155 ml each), six teaspoons with lily stem ends, one lemon fork, and one sugar scoop. All pieces come in a velvet-lined navy blue case.

Isn't 155 ml too small for tea?
155 ml is the classic mocha and espresso size — made for intense, concentrated enjoyment in a salon setting. It also works for strong black tea or small tea infusions, but it is smaller than a modern teacup (200-300 ml). If you use the service for a tea round, you will refill twice — and that is precisely the purpose of a classic salon service.

Is this Niello?
No. The blackening in the filigree recesses is a superficial antique patination from the ArgentA manufactory — not a melted niello inlay. Niello is another Russian technique with black sulfur-silver paste, typical for the SevChern manufactory from Veliky Ustyug. In this set, the patination is superficial and also acts as a protective layer against further tarnishing — it does not disappear with everyday use.

What porcelain is in the silver body?
Hard-paste porcelain from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory in Saint Petersburg, founded in 1744 under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. To this day, it is one of the few manufactories that fires Russian hard-paste porcelain according to classical recipes. For the "Silver & Porcelain" collection, porcelain and silver filigree were matched — the ribbed porcelain deliberately shines through the openwork lily ornaments.

Can the service be extended?
This configuration is designed for six place settings. Upon request, we can check with the manufacturer whether additional cups, saucers, or other components from the same Symphony line can be ordered. Those looking for larger table dimensions will also find more extensive sets with niello embellishment in our 925 silver coffee and tea services.

What other silver-porcelain service do you offer?
The Royal Hunt Tea Service from the same "Silver & Porcelain" collection — 7-piece for two people, with red deer and pheasant high relief instead of lily filigree. If you are looking for a masculine hunting variant as a contrast or counterpart, you will find it there. For pure niello table culture, we recommend the SevChern lines — Floralis, Hopfen, or Chrysopras service.

How is the set delivered?
In a velvet-lined premium case (navy blue, foldable), securely packed for shipping. Can be given directly as a gift, without additional gift wrapping. Free shipping within Germany, 30-day return policy, with a SilverVerse card for personal dedication if desired.