DESCRIPTION |
Highest quality silver three section vegetable serving dish and domed cover. This item, even when empty, is too heavy to be held in one hand. The very strong and extra wide base top rim enables it to be easily passed around table two handed. The top rim to the base is cast and not rolled over as is more common. This is for safe food use (no seams for juices to run into) and is a sign of the very best quality. The high domed cover is simply marked 'SILVER' and the base has three hallmarks that I do not recognise. This item is clearly a vegetable dish made for the British. It would be perfect for a family Sunday lunch, containing the three vegetables to accompany the roast. The simple 'SILVER' mark is usual on early 20th century Indian silver made for the British colonials. The hallmarks to the base are more mysterious. Three marks to the base that I have never seen before. Curiously, the marks have been left showing slightly through to the inside. If this piece was still in the silversmith's possession when these hallmarks were struck, then he would have smoothed this out. He would certainly not have let this slight imperfection go through on a piece of this quality and expense when it would be so easy to rectify. Therefore, I conclude that these three marks are a silver import mark for another country, possibly Near Eastern, from the form of the lettering. | ||
| SILVERSMITH |
unknown, probably British colonial. | ||
| DATE or HALLMARK |
early 20th century | ||
| ASSAY OFFICE or COUNTRY |
British colonial, probably India. | ||
WEIGHT in GRAMS |
1436 | ||
| SIZE in INCHES |
length: 8 7/8 |
width: 8 7/8 |
height: 6 |
| SILVER STANDARD |
unknown, but the bright colour and hefty feel suggest a high silver content. | ||
| OVERALL CONDITION |
excellent, no repairs, monograms or erasures. | ||
| MAJOR FAULTS |
none | ||
MINOR FAULTS |
none | ||
|
Price £225 |
SOLD |
BACK | Item Number: M1720 |
