Coffee and tea cup with saucer 925 silver Niello Quadrille

A couple dances on this coffee and tea cup. Firmly engraved in Niello black on polished 925 sterling silver – the lady in a voluminous ball gown, he in historical court attire – surrounded by gold-plated rims that turn every chalice into a stage scene from another era. The quadrille was the dance of the Tsarist balls: four couples moving in a square, changing partners, bowing. This cup captures exactly that 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 a gift box

Material and workmanship

Ornamental Niello patterns are a craft achievement in themselves – figurative scenes are another dimension. When a person is engraved in Niello on silver with a face, clothing, and posture, the goldsmiths work with tools whose tips are only a few tenths of a millimeter wide. A mistake 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 flake off, it does not fade. The cup comes from the SevChern manufactory in Veliky Ustyug, Northern Russia — where the art of Niello has been documented since 1683.

Usage and occasions

The cup holds 155 ml – the classic amount for a mocha, a strong tea, or a double espresso. The chalice shape on a high base keeps the coffee warm, while the silver rim quickly cools down to drinking temperature. With a weight of 166 g, you can feel as soon as you lift it 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 reminds one of the journey two people have shared. The single cup with saucer is suitable as an introduction, for the full experience, choose the Quadrille set with two cups and two saucers in a joint gift box.

Engraving and SilberVerse card

If you wish, we will engrave names, dates, or a personal dedication. Simply order the flat fee for the engraving service along with it; we will determine together with you after your order which area of the piece is suitable. If an engraving is not possible, we will refund the flat fee. The SilberVerse card in 15 × 10 cm photo format (landscape), individually designed and free of charge, completes the gift.

Care

Hand wash gold-plated silver – no dishwasher, no silver dip. For daily cleaning, a soft microfiber cloth is sufficient. Store in a dry place, 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. The quadrille is a classic social dance from the 18th century, in which four couples dance in a square – the dance of the Tsarist balls.

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

How elaborate is figurative Niello engraving compared to ornamental?
Figurative engraving is significantly more demanding: every body line, every fold of clothing, and every posture must be precisely engraved into the metal – one mistake permanently changes the figure's expression. This explains the difference in processing time compared to purely ornamental pieces.

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