Coffee & tea cup with saucer 925 silver Niello Quadrille

On this coffee and tea cup, a couple dances. Engraved in solid niello-black on polished 925 sterling silver – the lady in a wide ball gown, he in historical court attire – surrounded by gilded rims that turn each goblet into a stage cutout from another era. The Quadrille was the dance of the Tsar's balls: four couples moving in a square, changing partners, bowing. This cup captures that very moment – elegance, encounter, social ritual, transformed into silver.

At a glance

• Cup – Material: 925 sterling silver, gold plating, niello engraving; Dimensions: approx. D 76 × W 100 × H 98 mm; Volume: approx. 155 ml; Weight: approx. 166 g
• Saucer – Material: 925 sterling silver, gold plating; Dimensions: approx. D 110 × H 12 mm; Weight: approx. 92 g
• Scope of delivery: Cup and saucer in gift box

Material and craftsmanship

Ornamental niello patterns are already a feat of craftsmanship – figurative scenes are another dimension. When a person with face, clothing, and posture is engraved in niello on silver, the silversmiths 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. A black silver-sulfur alloy is melted into the finely engraved grooves, cooled, ground, and polished until the black is permanently anchored in the metal. It does not chip off; it does not fade. The cup comes from the SevChern manufactory in Veliky Ustyug, Northern Russia, which has been producing niello silver since 1683.

Use and occasions

The cup holds 155 ml – the classic amount for a mocha, a strong tea, or a double espresso. The goblet shape on a high foot keeps the coffee warm, while the silver rim quickly cools to drinking temperature. With an empty weight of 166 g, it is noticeable upon lifting that this is not everyday tableware. A dancing couple on a silver cup is a symbolic image that needs no further explanation: For a wedding, it refers to the first dance; for an anniversary or silver wedding, it commemorates the shared journey of two people. The single cup with saucer is suitable as an introduction, while the Quadrille set with two cups and two saucers in a shared gift box provides the complete experience.

Engraving and SilberVerse card

Upon request, we can engrave names, a date, or a personal dedication – please contact us before ordering so that we can jointly determine the appropriate area. The SilberVerse card in photo format 15 × 10 cm (landscape), individually designed and currently free of charge, completes the gift.

Care

Rinse gilded silver by hand – no dishwasher, no silver dip. For daily cleaning, a soft microfiber cloth is sufficient. Store dry, preferably in the gift box. The niello engraving is permanently anchored in the metal and requires no special care – its contrast deepens with regular polishing rather than fading.

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 classic 18th-century social dance where four couples dance in a square – the dance of the Tsar's balls.

Is there a suitable set of 2 for couples?
Yes – the Quadrille set with two cups and two saucers is available separately.

How intricate is figurative niello engraving compared to ornamental?
Figurative engraving is significantly more demanding: every body line, every fold of drapery, and every posture must be precisely engraved into the metal – an error permanently alters the figure's expression. This explains the difference in processing time compared to purely ornamental pieces.

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