George III Silver Butter Boat, 1769 St John Barry

This is a very rare example of a mid-18th century silver butter boat complete with original armorial.

Dating from the early George III period, this butter dish would have primarily been used to serve melted butter. The butter would have been ladled on to vegetables, seafood and steak (we have ladles in stock should you require one). The dish stands on an unusual scalloped, pedestal foot, has two cast, side-handles with acanthus leaf attachments and a wavy, gadroon top mount.

The body of this butter boat is engraved with the coat-of-arms of the Peverell family originating from the Plymouth area. This piece is in superb condition with a good, antique patina, clear armorial and a good set of London hallmarks to the underside and the IB maker's mark of St John Barry.

St John Barry is a rarely encountered silversmith with largeworker credentials having been formerly apprenticed to both Richard Cooke and William Shaw who specialised in making hollowware (e.g. coffee pots, tankards etc). He worked from Paternoster Row and first entered his mark in 1758.