This is a wonderful Danish sterling silver bowl or drinking vessel on a circular base with a swan holding the bowl.

Possibly it was made to commemorate the fairy story 'The ugly duckling' by Hans Christian Andersen. It may have been made as a gift, but it is certainly based on this fairy story.

As you can see by the images, it is a bowl with stylised Scandinavian engraving round the outside of the top part and a leaf design around the circular foot.

The Centre pedestal between the base and top is a swan, reminiscent of the famous story of the 'Ugly duckling' that turned into a beautiful swan.

This lovely piece of Danish silver was made by the famous Copenhagen silversmith Carl Peter Foght, who was born in 1802 and died in 1884 and who worked there from 1824 till 1884. He worked during the time Hans Christian Andersen lived and became famous as a national celebrity.

This cup is in fine and excellent condition and shows the minimum amount of wear.
A name is engraved around the top rim of the goblet in prick dot engraving reading 'Johannes Sandanger Torborg', plus another indistint few letters.
It stands 4 5/8 in. high (12 cm.) and weighs 143 grams. A complete set of marks are underneath.