Burnell and Rowe

Description

This is a fine Pair of Victorian Sterling Silver Open Salts. The salts are circular with beaded pedestal feet. The bodies are decorated with an arching design below a band of geometric decoration with a blank cartouche at the front if each salt.

The salts were made in London by silversmith Thomas Smily of the firm W.R. Smily and date to 1875. Several generations of the Smily Family were silversmiths in 19th century London, the earliest recorded being William Smily (born 1792). A number of family members acted as managers for A.B. Savory & Sons, whilst others set up their own businesses, notably William Robert Smily followed by his younger brother Thomas Smily who between them ran W.R. Smily between 1842 and 1883.

Condition is good, with no dings or dents, no significant salt corrosion and just the superficial surface wear that has to be anticipated after 150 years of good service. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

Each salt is 6.5cm / 2.5ins in diameter and stands 2.9cm / 1.1ins high. The pair together weigh in at a very respectable 67.7g / 2.4oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on the undersides of the bases, are nice and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the leopard's head assay mark for London, the date letter u for 1875, the Queen Victoria duty mark and the T.S makers' mark for Thomas Smily of W.R. Smily.

Shipping in the UK is £6 by Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.