74 Piece Triton Pattern Canteen, 1890

74 Piece Triton pattern Canteen, London 1890 by Charles Stuart Harris

The Service

This is a wonderful 74 piece canteen of silver in a very scarce and sought after flatware pattern. The service provides for six pieces per 12 place settings with a pair of sauce ladles. 

All the spoons and forks were hand-wrought in London and the majority of pieces date from 1890 with seven from 1900 and one from 1915. The 1890 pieces bear the mark of Charles Stuart Harris and the later pieces that of Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd. Apart from the hallmarks the pieces are identical in every other way and were made using the same dies. Each piece has a raised scene to the front terminal showing the Greek God Triton and has a feather edge design along the handle. The pattern is sometimes known by the Roman god equivalent and has the more long-winded title “Hanoverian Feather Edge Neptune Top”. 

The knives are best quality Sheffield made and bear hallmarks to the silver handles. The knives are fitted with stainless steel blades and have the same feather edge design along the handles as the spoons and forks – there is no figure of Triton. 

The service benefits from having no personalised engravings to any of the pieces.

Triton Pattern

This is a very rare flatware pattern that had a registered design number. It features the mythological Greek God Triton to the front terminal. Triton was messenger of the seas and is depicted holding a trident like his father Poseidon and having a sea shell on his right shoulder. Hanging around his waist is his other special attribute; a twisted conch that when blown could either calm or raise the waves. 

Below Triton is a cornucopia (horn of plenty) that represents bounty. The stem of each piece has a feather edged design.  

We are fortunate to own a copy of The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Limited catalogue of 1903 where Triton pattern is advertised – see photo.

Components

This 74-piece service consists of the following:

Total weight of weighable silver  2765 grams (89 troy ounces) plus 24 silver handled knives.

Condition

Excellent polished condition.

Presentation

This canteen is supplied in 6 anti-tarnish cutlery rolls. Each of these navy blue rolls holds 12 pieces.

As with all the canteens available from our web-site, we are happy to send a sample place setting for approval, on receipt of a fully refundable surety payment, prior to purchasing this canteen.