Description

A rare provincial Irish silver dish and detachable cover of unusual shallow design. At first sight this looks to be a bacon or hash dish however it is more likely to be a cheese toaster. Very simple and charming. The plain form is embellished by a gadroon border and small side handles. To the top there is a hand engraved crest of a boars head over a French motto.

Weight 524 grams, 16.8 troy ounces.
Spread 29 cm. Length 22.5 cm. Width 14.5 cm.
Both pieces are stamped “sterling” with the distinctive scrolled border used by George Hodder 1745-1770.
The top also bears Hodder’s maker’s mark (double struck).

Literature: Originally the cheese toaster was designed to stand in front of the fireplace where, using the detachable lid as a reflector, the heat would be directed down onto the cheese placed in the pan.

Signed/Inscribed: The engraved motto in old French reads ‘ne vante ne foiblesse’ and appears to be associated with a French family called Goddes de Varennes.