Queen Anne Silver Chocolate Pot, 1711, Bodington

Made during the reign of Queen Anne, this is a superb example of a large silver chocolate pot.

In typical style for the period with a tapering, cylindrical form, this hot chocolate pot has a wooden handle at a right angle to the swan neck spout. The spout is capped by a hinged cover that automatically opens when the liquid is poured and helps keep the contents warm. The cover is domed with an impressive scroll thumb-piece and has a strong hinge to attach to the body.

The plain body is engraved with a coat-of-arms that features a lion passant with fleur-de-lys above and below. The hallmarks remain clear and indicate the purer Britannia Standard the use of which was compulsory between 1697 and 1720. Allied to this is the new standard maker's mark "Bo" for the silversmith John Bodington (a second mark punched to the cover) who had been apprenticed to Jacob Harris and gained his freedom in 1688.

The condition is excellent with the underside showing the scratch weight of 27 troy ounces and 7 pennyweights (850 grams of silver) and engraved betrotal initials "Y" over "TS", where "Y" is the first letter of the newly weds surname.

This is a great opportunity to own a three-hundred year old plus large piece of silver hollowware for a very competitive price.