Pair Padova (Padua), Northern Italian .800 Silver Neoclassical Wine Coasters

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Description

Pair Padova (Padua), Northern Italian. 800 Silver Neoclassical Wine Coasters with Pierced Gallery and Laurel/Bellflower Engraving, Mid-20th Century

Description:
A … Read more Pair Padova (Padua), Northern Italian. 800 Silver Neoclassical Wine Coasters with Pierced Gallery and Laurel/Bellflower Engraving, Mid-20th Century

Description:
A refined and beautifully executed pair of mid-20th century Italian silver wine coasters, crafted in solid. 800 silver and fully hallmarked with the Italian national silver standard (800 fineness) and “29 PD,” denoting manufacture in the province of Padova (Padua), northern Italy. These coasters measure 5 inches in diameter and 1 inch high and together weigh approximately 194 grams (6.8 troy ounces).

The design is a crisp exercise in Italian neoclassical restraint. Each coaster features:
A continuous pierced gallery with repeating abstract bellflower motifs
A finely engraved laurel ring around the well, referencing classical victory wreaths
A brightly polished center with subtle circular engine-turning beneath
A smooth, unadorned outer rim reinforces their clean, modern elegance.

The openwork gallery was created using piercing and die-stamping techniques, a precision process requiring both mechanical tooling and hand-finishing. The base engraving and reflective polishing are done by hand, lending a bespoke finish to each piece.

These would have been made for a formal dining table or bar, intended to cradle fine wine or Champagne bottles, protecting wood or linen surfaces while adding a sense of ceremony to service. Unlike earlier 19th-century coasters, these are flatter and more architectural in proportion—reflecting the modern neoclassical revival that swept through postwar Italy’s applied arts.

Hallmarks:
“800” silver standard (indicates 80% silver content, common in Italian silver pre-1970s)
“29 PD” = Maker’s registration number in Padova province
Additional Italian national control mark (lozenge-shaped punch)

Date:
Circa 1950s–1960s, based on hallmark type and stylistic refinement

Dimensions:
Diameter: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Height: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Combined Weight: 194 grams / 6.8 troy ounces

Condition:
Very good vintage condition with minor surface wear consistent with use. Hallmarks are clear and legible. See less