Japanese, early 20th century. A 14 piece sterling silver tea service comprising of a large teapot (6.75" tall), a smaller teapot (5" tall), a covered sugar (3.75" tall), a creamer (4" tall), and a trash receptacle (4.25" tall), each of these pieces of rectangular form having chamfered corners and bands of floral decoration with squared handles and ivory inlaid accents, 6 demitasse spoons (5 3/8" long), a hammered finish two handled tray with wood base (17 1/4" x 13 1/8"), an arch handled basket (7.75" tall x 10" diameter), and a compote on raised round foot (5.25" tall x 12.5" diameter), the compote and basket with reticulated floral design on tondo to body. Service presented in a carved mahogany chest with burled walnut paneled lid, the chest being of two parts, the top part having a hinged lid and a single drawer at base, the bottom section being an open compartment, each compartment lined with gathered purple silk shaped compartments fitting each piece. Each piece marked to underside with two calligraphic marks within a square cartouche, these marks possibly a stylized representation of the characters for "pure silver". Total approximate weight (without tray) 200.5 troy ounces. Chest approximately 19.25" x 27.25" x 16.25"._x000D_
Note: according to the consignor, this set was purchased in Kyoto, Japan by American Colonel James C. Dempsey in the 1950s during the American occupation of the country after WWII, the set being one of seven belonging to Merchant Chiefs of Japan.

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