Burnell and Rowe

Description

Here we have a very stylish Art Deco Sterling Silver Four Slice Toast Rack from the mid-1940s. The toast rack has flat Odeon-style handles at each end and stepped decoration on the cross bars beneath them. If you like Art Deco then this is the toast rack for you!

Silver was in very short supply during the Second World War and the years immediately after, so substantial pieces like this are comparatively rare from this period.

The rack is made in Sheffield by world famous silversmiths Mappin & Webb and dates to the end of the Second World War in 1945. Founded in 1810 by Joseph Mappin Snr, in 1859 the firm split into two parts which would become Mappin Brothers and Mappin & Webb. They were rejoined when Mappin & Webb bought Mappin Brothers in 1902. The firm remained in the Mappin family until it was merged with Walker & Hall and Elkington & Co to form British Silverware in 1963.

Condition is very good, with no dings or dents and just the superficial surface wear that you would expect after nearly 80 years service on the breakfast table. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The toast rack is 12.1cm / 4.7ins long from handle to handle, 6.4cm / 2.5ins wide and stands 4.5cm / 1.8ins high. It weighs in at a substantial 105.6g / 3.7oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on one side of the toast rack, are crisp and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the crown assay mark for Sheffield, the date letter C for 1945 and the M & W makers' mark for Mappin & Webb. The cross bar at one end also has the retail stamp for Mappin & Webb Ltd, Sheffield & London.

Shipping in the UK is £10 by Royal Mail Special Delivery, which includes cover for the value of the toast rack.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.