With their ornate bodies and fancy stylized arms that tentacle out like some sort of beautiful sea creature, epergnes are functional objets d’art that demand the spotlight.
Born from 18th-century extravagance, epergnes were made to be the dramatic focal point on a perfectly set table when dining was an elegant art form.
Once something only the super wealthy could afford, epergnes are popularly collected today for their practical use and as spectacular decorative pieces.
18TH-CENTURY EPERGNES
The word epergne (pronounced “ip-urn,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary) likely derived from the French word “épargne,” meaning “saving,” as the purpose of these pieces was to centralize multiple foods, save on table space, and spare people from having to pass many individual dishes during dinner.
These multi-tasking creations, which the French called “surtouts,” had a classic design of a center bowl for fruit and several arms that branched out with small baskets, bowls, or saucers for holding candles, mini vases of flowers, nuts, sweetmeats, and other small treats. They could either be used in their complete form as a centerpiece or be broken down into their essential pieces and spread along the table, holding various food dishes. Accompanying accessories included oil and vinegar cruets, oil lamps, salt cellars, sauce boats, and spice boxes.
Developed during the 18th century, epergnes were part of a growing trend in aristocratic homes of using sumptuous objects to show off one’s wealth when entertaining. They were the most important and expensive item on the dinner table. The earliest record of one is in 1725.
Most were made of silver, which was a valuable and pricey material, so owning a piece of it as large as an epergne was only accessible to the most affluent wanting to display their prosperity and status by buying such extravagant goods.
These 18th-century epergnes gave the finest silversmiths on both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to show off their skills, including celebrated American silversmith Paul Revere and Thomas Pitts of London, renowned for his pieces with finely pierced basketwork.
Epergnes eventually gained widespread appeal with a broader public after they began being produced in less costly silver substitutes that gave the illusion of being pure silver, like Britannia metal, a pewter-type alloy popular for its silvery appearance, and Sheffield plate, a thin layer of silver fused to a cheaper layer of copper.
19TH-CENTURY EPERGNES
Epergnes reached their peak during the 19th century, thanks to the Victorians, who loved to host lavish dinner parties with fine food and beautiful table settings featuring ornate china, silverware, and decorative objects.
Though expensive silver epergnes were still made during this era, the Gorham Corporation was the best-known American maker, producing exceptional silver designs. Victorian glassmakers began producing a proliferation of more affordable epergnes in a rainbow of colors and showy forms.
These opulent glass centerpieces included a central column or flute that branched into three or more delicate arms holding hanging baskets with frilly or ruffled rims. They also often featured elaborate flower holders, sometimes with separate bud vases on arms or branches. With the bodies filled with flowers and hanging baskets brimming with bonbons or other treats, these pieces always made an impression on guests invited for afternoon tea or dinner.
By the late 19th century, there was continued demand for new and novel designs across the decorative arts, and epergnes were transformed to suit consumer trends and tastes. The art nouveau era influenced epergnes’ flutes to be shaped like flowers, a major motif in that design movement’s decorative pieces.
Notable American glass manufacturers like Fenton and Mt. Washington were major producers of epergnes in carnival, cranberry, milk, and other glass, while top British companies included Stevens & Williams and Thomas Webb & Sons.
As living became more informal after World War II, epergnes began falling out of vogue. They, like other luxury items once used for formal dining, were relegated to cupboards or forgotten about. Some leading glass companies like Blenko, Fenton, and Murano did make epergnes in the mid-century, however.
COLLECTING EPERGNES
Collectors have revived interest in epergnes today and hold them in high regard as ornamental pieces that are a beautiful addition to a home’s decor and as a tangible connection to the dining customs and tastes of earlier eras.
Antique pieces can serve their original purpose of enhancing the beauty of dinner tables, but they can also be repurposed for various uses. For example, they can hold salt and pepper shakers and cream and sugar dishes in the kitchen. In the bedroom, they can be placed on dressers to organize jewelry, while in bathrooms, they can hold makeup and beauty tools. On desks, they can be used for office supplies, and in sewing rooms, they can collect notions.
Throughout their 300-year history, epergnes have been created in various designs, shapes, and materials, leaving collectors with many choices. Prices depend on the materials, the complexity of the design, and the maker. Many epergnes can be found for under $25.
Silver epergnes generally have the most elaborate designs and are the most valuable, especially ones by renowned silversmiths, and can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. The top-selling silver epergne recorded in WorthPoint’s price database over the last three years is one crafted by Thomas Pitts from 1788 that sold for $25,200 in 2022. Other silver epergnes have sold between $500 and $23,900.
If you like the look of silver but don’t want to pay a steep price, many Sheffield-plate and silver-plate epergnes can be found for under $100.
Prices captured in the database show that glass epergnes have been selling in the past three years between $10 and thousands of dollars for examples made by notable glassmakers and companies. This piece, made by French artist Nicholas Lutz when he worked for Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, sold for $8,625 in 2023. Other Victorian-era epergnes made in blue, cranberry, opalescent, and uranium glass can also sell for $1,000 and more, though there are plenty of pretty pieces for less than $100.
Before buying an epergne, pay attention to its condition and completeness. Missing arms, baskets, or bowls, as well as mismatched pieces, can detract from its value. Also, look for maker’s marks or manufacturer labels, which can help establish authenticity and age.
Whether used for special gatherings or everyday elegance, epergnes easily elevate any table or space.
Adina K. Francis has been a writer and editor in the antiques and collectibles field for more than twenty years. She has a bit of an obsession with the Victorians and thinks that dogs are one of life’s greatest gifts.
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