Burnell and Rowe

Description

Here we have a finest quality large, heavyweight George VI three piece Sterling Silver Condiment Set from the late 1940s. Each piece stands on three paw feet surmounted by lion mask finials. There is an organic crinkled rim around the top of the salt and mustard and the base of lid of the pepper shaker. Both salt and mustard have their original blue glass liners. The mustard spoon is original but the salt spoon is a replacement dating to 1925.

This is a very well made set in a heavy gauge of silver by Thomas Ducrow & Sons of Birmingham and dates to 1947 for the salt and pepper and 1949 for the mustard pot & spoon. The replacement salt spoon, which fits in very nicely, is by Adie Brothers Ltd of Birmingham and dates to 1925. Thomas Ducrow & Sons were active in Birmingham between the mid-1920s and the mid-1960s.

Silver was a restricted material during the Second World War and still in short supply in the years immediately following. A large and heavy set like this one in the late 1940s would have been a rare and very expensive purchase.

Condition is generally good with just a couple of small dings and the superficial surface wear that you would expect after over 70 years of use. There is some salt spotting under the blue glass liners but this is not visible when they are in use. The two glass liners fit snugly and have no chips or cracks. The top of the pepper fits securely. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The pepper shaker stands 10.5cm / 4.1ins high and is 4.5cm / 1.8ins in diameter. The salt is 4cm / 1.6ins high and 6.3cm / 2.5ins in diameter with the spoon being 6cm / 2.3ins long. The mustard pot is 6.7cm / 2.6ins high, 6.3cm / 2.5ins in diameter and 8.9cm / 3.5ins from rim to handle, the mustard spoon being 7.2cm / 2.8ins long. Without the blue glass liners, the full condiment set weighs in at a very substantial 327.6g / 11.5oz 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 anchor assay mark for Birmingham, the date letter X for 1947 or Z for 1949 and the T.D. & S makers' mark for Thomas Ducrow & Sons. The salt spoon has the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the anchor assay mark for Birmingham, the date letter A for 1925 and the A Bros Ltd makers' mark for Adie Brothers Ltd.

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