1880 Reed & Barton Victorian Aesthetic Japanese Garden Ornate Coffee Tea Set

  

1880 REED & BARTON VICTORIAN AESTHETIC JAPANESE GARDEN ORNATE COFFEE TEA SET. Aestheticism (also the aesthetic movement) was an art movement in the late 19th century which valued the appearance of literature music and the arts over their functions. According to Aestheticism, art should be produced to be beautiful, rather than to teach a lesson, create a parallel, or perform another didactic purpose, a sentiment best illustrated by the slogan art for art's sake. Aestheticism originated in 1860s England with a radical group of artists and designers, including William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

It flourished in the 1870s and 1880s, gaining prominence and the support of notable writers such and Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde. Aestheticism challenged the values of mainstream Victorian culture, as many Victorians believed that literature and art fulfilled important ethical roles. Writing in The Guardian, Fiona McCarthy states that the aesthetic movement stood in stark and sometimes shocking contrast to the crass materialism of Britain. Original early ("World brand" patent feb 4 1880) set in excellent conditions showing generous plating to each piece no dents monogram breaks or repairs, a nick to the back of handle a pictured, strong hinge clean insides no leaks or repairs overall quality manufacture with splndid detail to solid casting, chase and textured finish to the bodies teapot 12" by 9" 2.2 lbs weight, Oversized sugar urn/tea caddy about 9" by 7 1/2" 1.8 lbs weight, Cream jug 7 1/2" by 8 7/8" and 1.0 lb weight.