Antique Silver and Mother of Pearl Cutlery


Date: 1870

Maker: Martin Hall and Co

Country: England

Stock: 9831

Description

A set of 12 knives and 12 forks with pretty blades finely engraved with flower and foliate decoration. The real mother of pearl handles have ornate ferules with bead borders. Original cushion shaped wooden box with blue velvet interior.

Knife 22.2cm. Fork 18.3cm.

Sheffield 1870.

Maker Martin Hall.

Sterling silver.

Literature. In the late 19th century sets of cutlery and serving pieces with real mother of pearl handles became popular. They are often found in their original fitted boxes and make attractive wedding gifts. Cutlery handles made from real mother of pearl shell occasionally have a slight variation in grain and size.

Biography

Martin Hall and Co

The firm Martin Hall was established as a partnership in 1820 in Sheffield by Henry Wilkinson and John Roberts, trading as Wilkinson & Roberts. Wilkinson left in 1836. In 1846 John Roberts became partners with Ebenezer Hall (his apprentice in 1836) as Roberts & Hall.
In 1854 Richard Martin (of Martin Brothers & Naylor) and Joshua Hall (brother of Ebenezer Hall) entered the partnership and the firm became Martin, Hall & Co. In 1866 the firm became a limited company. Although originally based at Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield the company also had factories in London and Birmingham with showrooms in London and Glasgow. The firm participated in the 1851 Great Exhibition, the International Exhibition (1862), the Sydney Exhibition (1879), the Melbourne Exhibition (1881) and the 1915 British Industries Fair.
In liquidation 1933, Closed by 1936. Their full name was Richard Martin, Ebenezer Hall & Co.

Condition

All in very good condition. The cutlery is stamped with a full set of English silver hallmarks, the ferules also have silver stamps and have Victorian lozenge registration marks.

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