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Sterling Epergne
Here I'm leveling the arm of this 19th century epergne* made in London. This piece, though beautiful, has some inherent problems for everyday living. Two of the legs had broken off because the castings were made too thin to support the epergne's weight. Also, the basket arm supports were cast, resulting in softened sterling that is very easy to bend. * An epergne generally has a large central "bowl" or basket sitting on three to five feet. From this center "bowl" radiate branches supporting small baskets, dishes, or candleholders. Epergnes were traditionally made from silver, however, from around the start of the 20th century, glass was also employed. An epergne may be used to hold any type of food or dessert. It may also be used as a designer object to hold candles, flowers or ornaments for a holiday or other special event. In traditional use, an epergne was a fancy way to display side dishes, fruit, sweetmeats, or other finger foods. |