Featured I could be wrong, but it was WAYYY worth the risk

Too bad the tee strainer was a dud, but DANG that set cleaned up nicely.

 

you are right there was a cup, which also is not in the pictures. Did the cup also have the hammered silver finish or plain?

I do hope you have kept the strainer. i would think it still complete the set.

 

The strainer had a Dutch windmill, the Djokja silversmiths used Javanese ornaments.
I suspect the set never had a strainer, because it wasn't made for tea but for coffee.

 

That would explain the very dark 'rust like' stain formed on the inside of the pots

 

Here's the cup

 

Definitely doesn't match the set - 1950s sterling baby cup. Not that I'd kick it out of the house! (LOL)

 

Appreciate it's very late to be adding to this thread, but I've just joined the forum and seen this. It's a fabulous set, by Moeljodihardjo. Not tea or coffee, but a chocolate set, and therefore never had a strainer. The open sugar would probably have had a matching lid when new, and it might have had six matching spoons, though not all sets have spoons. The double peacock motif is fairly common on Djokja silver in general, especially dishes, jewellery and tobacciana, but very rare on services. I have only seen two examples in many years of collecting, and never on a chocolate set, which are much scarcer than tea services anyway. Great find!

 

@MrNate

 

I'm not a silver collector but remember when he posted this and thought it was really really wonderful !

 

Hopefully, he sees the tag & will get the additional information.

 

I think @Any Jewelry will be interested too.

 

Never too late, and this is woderful info Bob, thank you very much for taking the time to share. I still have the set, so far it's been too pretty to get rid of in my collection.

 

Thanks for the tag. I had seen it before, and nice to know it is a chocolate service. Makes sense, of course, with the shape.
Chocolate services were very popular in the Netherlands, and most pre-war Djokja was made for the Dutch market. Djokja silver, which was below the legal fineness in the Netherlands, was even given an exemption in an effort to support Javanese craftspeople.

The double-headed peacock is a legacy of the old kingdoms of part of Java, where it was a symbol of royalty, much like the double-headed eagle in Europe. The Djokja silver- and goldsmith families of Kota Gede originally worked for the aristocracy, and the decorations used are derived from aristocratic symbolism.
I seem to remember it was originally the symbol of the royal family of Jepara, on the central north coast.
The peacock is the rare Javanese green peacock. (Which typically has one head.)

 

Absolutely STUNNING! and I love your polish job! Gorgeous! I'd be in love also!
Leslie

 

Good to know about the peacock. I had no idea there were different types. Found this page on the web (https://steemit.com/animal/@musmuli...-species-and-their-explanations-3d8db70f89d31) which shows four kinds, one of which is pure white! Amazing!

 

The pure white one is absolutely stunning.
I think Musmuliandi had trouble finding a photo of the green peacock though. It does have some blue, but the neck is a beautiful emerald green:



Maybe interesting to know, the peacock also has a metaphysical meaning on Java (of course). It is the symbol of one of the spiritual purity aspects of the Prophet Muhammad.

 

What a gorgeous bird!

 

Yes, this is quite a different colour around the neck. I will keep my eye open next time I am in Java!

 

Do you go there regularly?

 

Used to at least once a year, but travel has been impossible since COVID. My wife had a trip planned last week, but cancelled due to reinstatement of 10 day quarantine requirement. We'll wait to see how the omicron situation develops.