Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Naturalistic Sauce Boat with Acorn Design - London 1881

We are delighted to offer this spectacular sculptural and naturalistic solid silver Victorian sauce boat made in London in 1881 with marks for James Barclay Hennell. This sauce boat features a unique and remarkable combination of minimalistic 'plain' silver and ornately embellished naturalistic accents which create a wonderful artistic juxtaposition and a distinct aesthetic effect. The entire sauce boat is made from a very thick gauge of silver weighing over half a kilo in spite of its relatively hollow design. This can be further appreciated when handling in person whereby the hefty weight certainly has a feel of exceeding quality. Each additional part such as the handle and feet is applied cast silver with naturalistic motifs and designs of acorns, leaves and branches. The realistic and sculptural design is made in a way as if inviting the onlooker to view the object from all angles and appreciate its impressive degree of intricacy and design. What is particularly unique in addition to the above is the hand-chased border of acorn motifs around the top edge of the boat (whilst this may usually be left unembellished or gadrooned, it is quite rare to see such an ornate example). This seemingly insignificant yet laborious embellishment clearly displays the opulence and 'no cost cut' attitude for the creation of this piece. Both sides of the sauce boat are hand engraved with a monogram and two crests with a Baron's coronet. A wonderful collectable yet practical piece of naturalistic Victorian silverware, ideal for collectors of unique sauceboats or as a splendid addition to your dining table for an indulgent setting and dining experience. A full set of English hallmarks is present on the base. *Please note: all images with other items are for display purposes only, this listing is for the item mentioned in the title. We aim to overemphasize and state these issues (if any) to avoid disappointment and thus please rest assured they are not significant nor affect the usage of the items. Please refer to the photographs to examine the condition in further detail. Free Shipping Artisan Antiques offers free global shipping with professional, secure and discreet packaging. We will always ensure your items are packaged with the utmost care and see the delivery through to the end. In the very rare and unfortunate case of non-delivery/courier loss, you are fully covered with us and we will fully refund you. *All parcels are insured - please rest assured all shipping liabilities other than import/customs duty are covered by Artisan Antiques. *Colours of the product may slightly differ from the photos due to different computer screens & lighting conditions* - Price negotiations may be possible under certain criteria, please contact us via telephone or email.