London 1851 English hallmarked antique silver fish slice with beautifully shaped and unusual pierced blade by Charles Boyton, well known maker.The slice is made in the fiddle pattern with very crisp shoulders, has a lovely shaped blade with double thread interior and exterior borders, and a lovely scrolled pierced pattern to centre.Size 12.25 inches long by 2.5 inches wide.Weight-140 grams.Fish servers and slices were often decorated with piercing. This looked attractive and allowed excess cooking juices to drain from the fish before it was placed onto a dinner plate.Fish etiquette has always been very important. Fish slices began to be used at the dinner table during the early 1700s. They remained popular throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. The blades of fish slices are often made from silver or silver plate as it was thought a steel blade would ruin the delicate taste of the fish.The 1860 advice manual ''The Habits of Good Society'' gives clear advice on ho...