Burnell and Rowe

Description

This ia a smart late Victorian Sterling Silver Shell Dish. The dish is shaped as a scallop shell and stands on three ball feet. There are no initials or personalisation of any kind.

This dish was almost certainly originally intended as a butter dish but today it can be used for table sauces, nuts or snacks, potpourri, jewellery, stationery items or simply as a decorative object in its own right.

The shell dish is made in Sheffield by James Deakin & Sons and dates to 1889. James Deakin founded the firm in 1866 and by 1878 and had been joined by his son William as partner, with two further sons joining in the 1880s. The company was very successful with manufacturing in Sheffield and showrooms in London, Glasgow and Belfast. In 1935 they were involved in an ill-fated merger which led to the company's collapse within a couple of years.

Condition is extremely good with no dings or dents and just the superficial surface wear that you would expect after over 130 years of good service. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The dish is 12.5cm / 4.9ins from rim to handle, 10.3cm / 4ins across and stands 2.3cm / 0.9ins high. It weighs in at a very respectable 60.5g / 2.1oz of solid Sterling Silver.


The hallmarks, on the upper side of the handle, are nice and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the crown assay mark for Sheffield, the date letter W for 1889, the Queen Victoria duty mark and the J D over W D makers mark for James & William Deakin of James Deakin & Sons.

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