A Charles XIV John early 19^th century Swedish silver teapot, Stockholm 1838 by Gustaf Möllenborg (master 1823)

Of ogee rectangular form with fluted panels and an everted neck. The curved spout with fluting opposite an ebonised scroll handle pinned to sockets. The hinged gently domed lid surmounted by a detachable ebonised knop finial. Fully marked underneath with makers mark MÖLLENBORG, and fully marked to the lid bezel with makers mark GEM.

Length – 28.5 cm / 10.9 inches

Weight – 957 grams / 30.77 ozt

Gustaf Möllenborg (1796-1851) became an apprentice to a silversmith in Växjö at the age of 13, before moving to Stockholmin 1819. He became a master silversmith in 1823, at the age of 26. Möllenborg’s workshop expanded rapidly and had over 40 employees by the 1840s, making it Sweden’s biggest producer of decorative works in gold and silver. In 1850, the year before his death, Möllenborg passed his business on to one of his journeymen and the company continued until 1927, when the contents of the workshop were donated to Nordiska Museet.