Coffee & tea cup with saucer 925 silver Niello Quadrille

A couple dances on this coffee and tea cup. Engraved firmly in Niello-black on polished 925 sterling silver — the lady in a wide ball gown, he in historical court attire — surrounded by gilded rims that make each chalice a stage cutout from another time. This is the Quadrille cup by SevChern.

The Motif — A Couple Dancing the Quadrille

The quadrille was the dance of the Tsar's balls. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it dominated the ballrooms of the Russian aristocracy — four couples moving in a square (French: carré), exchanging partners, bowing, turning. It is the dance of society, of encounter, of the elegant connection between two people.

SevChern has captured this moment in Niello. The dancing couple on this cup wears the clothing of their time — the lady's dress, the gentleman's historical court attire — and is engraved with the richness of detail that has distinguished the Niello masters of Veliky Ustyug for more than three centuries. Every line, every fold in the fabric, every posture of the body has been individually incised into the silver.

Niello on Figurative Motifs — The Most Difficult Discipline of Silversmithing

Ornamental Niello patterns are already a feat of craftsmanship. Figurative scenes are a different dimension. When a person — with face, clothing, posture — is engraved in Niello on silver, goldsmiths work with tools whose tips are only a few tenths of a millimeter wide. An error in the line irrevocably changes the expression of the figure.

The technique: A black silver-sulfur alloy is melted into finely engraved grooves, cooled, ground, and polished — six steps until the black is permanently anchored in the metal. It does not flake off. It does not fade. Decades — or generations — later, the couple still dances clearly and cleanly on the polished silver.

155 ml of Silver — Coffee or Tea as a Ceremony

The cup holds 155 ml — the classic amount for a mocha, a strong tea, or a double espresso. The chalice shape on a tall foot keeps the coffee warm; the silver rim quickly cools to drinking temperature. The cup alone weighs 166 g — more than some porcelain drinking vessels. You feel it immediately when you lift it: this is not crockery. This is an object with history.

Whoever uses this cup daily transforms their morning coffee into a conscious break. Whoever leaves it on the shelf displays a work of art — the couple dances regardless of whether there is liquid in it or not.

Gift for Couples — Wedding, Anniversary, Silver Wedding

A dancing couple on a silver cup — the symbolic image needs no further explanation. For a wedding, the cup is a reference to the first dance. For an anniversary or silver wedding, it commemorates the journey two people have taken together. The Quadrille design is not a random ornament — it is an attitude: the elegance of partnership, captured in silver.

The single cup with saucer is suitable as an introduction. For the complete experience, there is the Quadrille 2-piece set — two cups, two saucers, a shared gift box. Upon request, we engrave names, dates, or a personal dedication. The SilverVerse card in photo format (10 × 15 cm), individually designed and currently free of charge, completes the gift.

SevChern — Gold Medal Paris 1937

The SevChern manufactory has been operating since 1683 in Veliky Ustyug, a small town in Northern Russia, which has been considered a center of Russian Niello art since the Middle Ages. At the 1937 Paris World Exhibition, SevChern won the gold medal — not for a single piece, but for the overall achievement of a tradition that has largely disappeared in Western Europe. This cup comes from that tradition.

Care

Wash gilded silver by hand — no dishwasher, no silver dip. A soft microfiber cloth for daily cleaning. Store dry, preferably in the gift box. The Niello engraving is permanently anchored in the metal and requires no special care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is depicted on the cup — and what does "Quadrille" mean?
The cup shows a dancing couple in historical court attire, engraved in Niello-black. Quadrille is a classical social dance from the 18th century, where four couples dance in a square — the dance of the Tsar's balls. SevChern has captured this moment in silver.

Is there a matching 2-piece set for couples?
Yes — the Quadrille set with two cups and two saucers is available separately. Discover the full range in our Coffee & Tea Ware Collection with Niello.

Is this a good wedding gift?
Yes — the dancing couple makes this cup one of the most symbolic silver wedding gifts. Find more ideas in our collection Wedding Gifts in 925 Silver.

How intricate is figurative Niello engraving compared to ornamental?
Figurative engraving is significantly more demanding: every body line, every fold of clothing, every posture must be precisely engraved into the metal — an error permanently changes the expression of the figure. This explains the difference in processing time and price compared to purely ornamental pieces.

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