Vintage "Abbes Plate" EPNS Pierced Gallery Hot Water or Coffee Pot

It is an inescapable truth of modern life that while coffee is consumed in staggering quantities, the elaborate vessels designed to serve it sixty years ago have largely been relegated to the sidelines of domestic history. This is the tall hot water or coffee pot from the Abbes Plate service, featuring the same elegant acanthus feet and highly decorative pierced gallery rim. Fitted with a beautifully carved ebonised handle and a matching composite lid finial, it possesses a striking, elongated silhouette. While it may no longer be required to pour espresso to mid-century standards, it serves as an imposing piece of tabletop sculpture for anyone who values a well-dressed dresser.

Honest Anatomy

This is an electroplated nickel silver (EPNS) footed pot standing approximately 18 cm (7 inches) tall to the peak of the lid finial and measuring 19 cm from the back of the handle to the tip of the pouring lip. Externally, the silver plating has cleaned up to an exceptional, brilliant finish with no bleed or base metal showing. The ebonised handle is perfectly tight, and the hinged lid operates smoothly. However, the interior tells a more honest story of its previous life. It is heavily stained with dark, oxidised coffee residue and internal plating degradation that will likely resist even the most enthusiastic kitchen chemistry. It is therefore presented primarily as a highly decorative display piece, a flower vase candidate, or for staging purposes, rather than a practical breakfast vessel.

Specifications & Keywords

• Brand: Abbes Plate
• Composition: Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS), ebonised wood/composite handle
• Era: Circa 1950–1960
• Form: Tall footed coffee pot / hot water pitcher with hinged lid
• Dimensions: 18 cm high x 19 cm long x 11.5 cm wide