Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
An exceptionally elegant sterling silver coffee pot featuring a sleek, urn-shaped body on a pedestal foot, accented by a stylized black wood or composite handle. The underside is fully marked with the prestigious Tiffany & Co. maker's stamp, pattern number 21204, and the directorship letter 'M' alongside a capacity mark of '5 Gills'.
Story
In 1947, Louis deBebian Moore's directorship at Tiffany & Co. introduced the 'M' mark, reviving clean, geometric Art Deco lines for post-war high society. This vessel measures its volume in 'gills'—an archaic British system.
Maker / Origin
Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, Tiffany & Co. became the premier American purveyor of luxury goods and fine silver. Under legendary artistic directors, the firm set the global standard for sterling silver purity (.925) in the United States, winning grand prizes at the Paris Expositions and supplying royalty, presidents, and the Gilded Age elite.
Condition & Value
The coffee pot appears to be in excellent vintage condition with a highly reflective surface, showing only minor surface scratches consistent with light use and polishing. The hallmarks on the underside are crisp and fully legible. Excellent condition with no major dents or deep scratches commands a premium in the silver market.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.