Description

A very beautiful 17th century silver dish with leaf side handles, dating back to the first half of the 1600’s. Of circular form, hand decorated with a segmented foliate design and a central cartouche with concentric punches. This form is sometimes described as a wine taster however this example doesn’t have the domed centre for viewing the colour of the wine. Excellent patina.

Weight 124g, 3.9 troy oz.
Spread 21cm. Diameter 15cm. Height 2.3cm.
London 1640.
Maker “IM”.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Fully stamped to the edge with a full set of English silver hallmarks. The maker’s mark “IM” has not been identified*.

Literature. Fire at Goldsmiths Hall. It is unusual to have a maker’s name for a piece of silver of this early date as there are no precise records of silver makers’ marks prior to 1697. All records were destroyed in the fire at Goldsmiths Hall in 1681 when the Assay Office and apartments of the Assayer and Clerk in the south west wing of the building were burned down. From 1697 onwards Goldsmiths Hall has preserved a complete record of workmen’s marks, addresses, together with their names and the dates. Sometimes the details of makers can be discovered from old records such as the inventories of noble houses and other institutions.

The first surviving record at Goldsmiths Hall is the 1682 copper plate made to start the recording process again. A recent study by Dr David Mitchell, supported by Goldsmiths Hall, resulted in the publication of his 2017 “Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London” which identifies previously unknown makers marks and assigns marks struck on existing plate to individuals (attributions for 540 separate marks).

This attractive dish is in very good condition with minor wear commensurate with age.

No maker assigned

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