8" Commonwealth Dish, 1654

This excellent silver dish is a rare survivor from the Commonwealth period and the government of Oliver Cromwell. The inter-regnum period between 1649 and 1660 produced very little silver as the ongoing Civil War required virtually all available finances, indeed much silver was melted during the period. It is a good sized dish that could be considered either as a strawberry dish or sweetmeat dish. It is beautifully chased throughout and has a vacant cartouche to the centre (no erasures).

The hallmarks are located to the outer rim on the other side and include a clear date letter and the makers' mark "GB" for an unidentified silversmith (see 3rd entry on page 123 of Jacksons Hallmarks by Ian Pickford).