English Victorian Silverplate Spoon Warmer / 1890-1900
Pricing & History
-
Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Sold Date
- Source eBay
English Victorian spoon warmer produced by Phillip Ashberry & Sons of Sheffield, England sometime during the 1890's. The company was well known for their Britannia metal silverplated holloware. Spoon warmers were rather commonly produced in England but exceedingly rare in American silverplate of the same era. Most English versions had a solid rock-like base; however, legs, such as on this version, were less common. The interior cavity was filled with hot water and spoons were submerged to be heated with the opening cut-out in the lid for the spoon handle. Since the tea ritual is not much now in practice in North America one could use use this piece as a jam container, or as a sugar bowl, with a serving spoon or ladle. The overall motif of this spoon warmer is of a conch shell elevated by three legs formed as coiled fish-like creatures with scales, fins, and slender bodies that resemble eels rather than the dolphins depicted by the heads at the leg ends. If this composite is an actual sea animal then maybe someone reading this would kindly enlighten me since I cannot identify a halibut from a flounder. The handle on the back of the container is a bent twig form and the lid handle is a twig with a tiny cluster of grapes. This piece is in very good condition with 98% of its original silverplate intact with only a small amount of base
read more
Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.
If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.