Silver objects from Art Deco & Art Nouveau – elegant collector's items
Art Nouveau Carafe by Topázio - Portuguese Handicraft
This exquisite Art Nouveau carafe is by the renowned Portuguese silversmith Topázio Casquinha and marked "Topázio."
The bulbous body of the wine carafe, made of colorless lead crystal, and the silver-plated metal mount showcase the organic design language typical of Art Nouveau. The floral chasing on the handle and the hinged lid are particularly striking. The blossom and flower tendrils of the silver mount lend the carafe a special elegance and, combined with the cool, clear crystal glass, create a harmonious tension.
The "T" hallmark visible on the mount confirms the carafe's attribution to the maker Topázio Casquinha. Hallmarks that simply bear the maker's mark "Topázio" or the "T" (without an explicit fineness) indicate high-quality silver plating, which was common for carafes of this type.
About the Manufactory: Topázio Casquinha Silversmiths
The silversmiths' workshop was founded in Porto in 1874 by José Manuel Ferreira Marques.
After his death, his sons Gabriel and Silvestre Ferreira Marques took over the management of the company and introduced the Topázio brand in 1934, named after topaz, their mother's favorite stone.
After producing pure silverware made of sterling silver or Portuguese silver, objects made of silver and crystal followed in the 1950s, and the first high-quality silver-plated items appeared in the 1970s.
