Ostrich Egg Containers

Chinese, 19th century

Silver, ostrich eggs, lead

Newport Mansions

The restoration of this set, located in the McBean Estate, Chepstow, involved one of our favorite challenges – working with mixed materials. Over 20 pieces of silver as well as the ostrich eggs themselves, were broken or missing. We had some recast at a jewelry foundry. Others we cut and chased (detailed with polished chisels) from sheet silver. The shattered eggs were cleaned, reinforced and put together again. The parts were repatinated, lacquered, and reassembled.