A coin silver cream pitcher by Joseph Rafel, New Orleans, circa 1850s. Rafel worked in New Orleans for about a decade, where he advertised as a goldsmith, silversmith and jeweler. Extant silver pieces bearing his mark "J.RAFEL N.O." are scarce, and this excellent, helmet shaped pitcher is one of the finest examples of his work that I have seen. The pitcher measures nearly seven inches to top of handle, and the weight is quite heavy at nearly seven ounces troy. The applied medallion with liberty cap is in the French taste, popular in New Orleans. An exceptional piece by this scarce maker of the decade before the Civil War.

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