408: A PLIQUE A JOUR SILVER VESSEL SIGNED MARIUS HAMMER

The bulbous Norwegian silver vessel with horse head surmounts is built by hand in elaborate openwork floral motifs and decorative bands sculpted from silver stock and filled with jewel-tone glass enamels in the technique plique a jour - French for 'letting in daylight.' The circular base of solid silver is embellished in green guilloche enamel on the inside and stamped with the maker's initials MH on the underside along with the hallmark for Marius Hammer and the Norwegian silver standard stamp of 930s, higher silver content than sterling.
Measures 4.5 x 6 x 3.75 inches.
Good to fair condition, noting minor scattered crazing and a small area of loss as shown.
Provenance: The collection of Josephine Bird Hall (1888 - 1948) by descent to her son, the present owner. Josephine's father was a founder of Kansas City's Emery, Bird, Thayer Department Store.
$400 - $600