Original Tiffany "Japanese" Sterling Sauce Ladle

Issued in 1871 and resting within the Aesthetic mode, Tiffany's "Japanese" became a flagship design both for the company and the movement rooted in the 19th century's fascination with Far Eastern imagery. The pattern was reissued in 1956 under the name "Audubon," but the later pieces do not meet the standard of earlier ones. This 5 3/4" long, approximately 1.4 T. oz., sauce ladle is an original piece marked "Tiffany & Co.," "Sterling," "Pat. 1871," and with a capital "M." The portraiture features a long-tailed bird with upraised wings alighting upon a leafy branch. It has a round bowl and feathered script "AGL" monogram on the reverse. It is in excellent estate condition. Pattern detail is free of polishing wear, remaining crisp and well-articulated. The bowl shows surface scratches consistent with age, but is free of dings, dents, or burrs. The finish is nicely aged.