Crested Fiddle Pattern Flatware Service, 1831

33 piece crested Fiddle Pattern Canteen, London 1831 by William Eaton

The Service

We are pleased to be offering a stunning William IV period silver 6 place settings canteen in Fiddle Pattern. The service provides for five pieces per 6 place settings with large serving pieces and knives as an optional extra.

The particularly interesting point with this service is the amazing crest to the terminals. It comprises three distinct crests and two mottoes – we have never seen flatware engraved like this before and it must have cost a huge premium when originally engraved to the set. The crests depict a lion rampant, a bird of prey and a hand holding a cruciform. The motto above reads “FEAR GOD” and below “VINCERE VEL MORI” – which translated from the Lain means “to Conquer or Die”. In typical Georgian fashion, the spoons are engraved to the front and the forks to the reverse (forks were laid with prongs facing the table).

All the pieces were hand wrought in London and the majority (29 pieces) was made by the premier flatware specialist William Eaton in 1831; the remaining 4 items were made in 1832/3.

The soup spoons are in the standard oval bowled form of the 19^th century where soup was supped from the side of the bowl – these table spoons are also useful for serving purposes. The teaspoons are 5.5” long and can also have a dual purpose for use with certain desserts (e.g. mousse and creme brulee). The service is enhanced by the presence of two 12” long basting spoons (aka stuffing, gravy or long handled serving spoons) and a large soup ladle.

Fiddle Pattern

Fiddle Pattern was the dominant flatware pattern of 19th Century Britain. It was by far the most popular pattern from 1810 until 1880. Production was largely discontinued in 1914, as the original dies for hand wrought fiddle pattern were destroyed during the First World War. As the pattern has rarely been made since, the design is distinctively 19th Century and is extremely popular today for people wishing to own antique cutlery.

Components

This 33-piece service consists of the following:

Total weight of silver 1980 grams (63.7 troy ounces).

Knives

We can offer a choice of knives with this service should you require them.

24 bone handled Knives (6 table & 6 dessert) - £120

24 New Silver Handled Old English Pattern Knives (6 table & 6 dessert) - £660 (n.b. we feel that this style of knife best suited to matching fiddle pattern)

Please contact us for extra details.

Optional Extras

We have quite a few extra pieces from the original service, including 6 table and 6 dessert forks, plus some salt spoons. Details can be provided on request.

Furthermore, we have a huge range of Fiddle Pattern in stock and will be happy to quote for any additional pieces that may be required to suit your needs.

Condition

Excellent original condition.

Presentation

This canteen is offered loose. We can supply anti-tarnish cutlery rolls on request. These navy blue rolls have individual pockets to hold 12 items per roll and are available for £15 each.

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.