An Extremely Rare Early 19th C Georgian Silver Vinaigrette Modelled as Cornucopia Hallmarked for Birmingham and Most Likely by the Silversmith John Bettridge.

This very rare novelty Georgian silver vinaigrette is superbly modelled as a classical cornucopia. The bottom horn section is beautifully detailed and engraved with corded bands. The hinged top section is finely cast and hand chased with an abundant display of mixed flowers, fruit and foliage. The edges of the two parts are each finished with a small raised and engraved foliate moulding and trailing from the lower is a leafy stem indicating the front position for opening. The lid hinges open to reveal a rich gilded interior fitted with an inner hinged grill which is pierced and hand engraved with a central flower with pluming feathers and scrolls. The vinaigrette is instinctively hallmarked on the small inner rim. There is a clear lion standard mark, a part bust of George III or IV and a part anchor mark for Birmingham. And the last mark in the sequence is either a year letter or a maker’s mark.

Again, this design is very rarely seen and is almost always from John Bettridge's workshops. An almost identical example is illustrated in Starting to Collect Silver by John Luddington.

English, circa 1820

Height 4cm x width 3cm x depth 2.3cm

Robert Belcher Antiques was established in 1984 and is a high-quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative objects. After forty years of shop keeping and maintaining beautiful showrooms, which have been regularly open six days a week, Robert and Wendy have now taken a slightly different approach to their business. Having sold their retail premises, the antique business is now fully online. The picture framing service has ceased to operate because of moving online.

You can contact Robert and Wendy by email or telephone to discuss items from their extensive catalogue of attractive pieces and make purchases. Customers can rest assured that the long-established dealership is continuing to run in an exceedingly professional way, selling genuine and high-quality items which are guaranteed to please the most discerning collector, decorator or homeowner.

All items will be personally hand packaged to a high standard. Small items are extensively wrapped using the best materials and are often double boxed. Items are then shipped with DHL or Royal Mail fully insured and often with next day delivery. Larger items would be personally delivered or sent with a specialist antique delivery firm, or for outside the U.K, a professional shipping company.

Please enjoy viewing their collection of rare and interesting pieces and have the assurance that Robert and Wendy will do their utmost to make sure your experience is exceptional, as has been recognised by many customers who have bought with confidence regularly over the years.

Contact details

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07720 607007

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