Sauce boat - Silverplated - NO RESERVE

Silver plated sauce boat by James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield, the helmet shaped body with a gadrooned rim and a leaf capped flying scroll handle, raised on three shell headed hoof feet.

The form follows the Georgian sauce boat that English silversmiths settled on in the middle of the eighteenth century and never improved upon: a deep helmet body drawn to a long lipped pouring spout at one end, a high scroll handle at the other, and three splayed feet that hold it steady on a cloth.

The rim is bordered with cast gadrooning. The handle springs clear of the body in a double scroll and is capped with an acanthus leaf where it meets the rim. Each of the three hoof feet rises to a cast shell.

The base is struck with the maker's pseudo hallmarks, a shaped device punch followed by four letter punches and an oval, over the pattern number 34267 with MADE IN ENGLAND and HARD SOLDERED. James Dixon & Sons were founded in Sheffield in 1806 and were among the largest English makers of electroplate.

Dimensions -
Length: 20 cm
Width: 10 cm
Height: 13 cm
Weight: 335 g

Specifications -
Maker: James Dixon & Sons, Sheffield
Mark: Maker's pseudo hallmarks, pattern 34267, Made in England, Hard Soldered
Material: Silver plate
Period: Early 20th century
Form: Helmet shaped, gadrooned rim, three shell headed hoof feet

Condition :
Good antique condition. The plate is bright with light surface scratching, the gadrooned rim and cast shells crisp, and the handle firm.