Standing 9½in (24cm) tall and weighing 20oz, the pot with a fruitwood handle was not ascribed to any maker but, apart from minor wear, had no damage or signs of restoration. A tempting estimate of £1000-1500 brought interest from the London silver trade at the Derbyshire saleroom, but a dealer from the capital finally lost out to a private bid of £5200.
Silver choc pot is sweet success in Derbyshire sale
Silver was among the success stories of the wide-ranging March 30-April 1 sale at Hansons, in particular a 1705 Britannia standard chocolate pot.