Important Australian Sterling Silver Flatware Service, c.1895, H. Fischer

Rare and important Australian sterling silver flatware service,…
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Rare and important Australian sterling silver flatware service, c.1895, marked H.Fischer (Harry Fischer), Stg. Silver, in Old English pattern, comprising six table forks, six table spoons, six dessert forks and six dessert spoons, together with a pie server and slice, of undulating tapering form with pointed finial, all engraved with the monogram for Dr Edward Joseph Brooke du Moulin to terminal, total weight 1773gm, length 18.5 cm, 22.5 cm, 17 cm, 20.5 cm, 25 cm and 28.5 cm (26) Provenance: Harry Fisher, Melbourne, then Dr Edward Joseph Brooke du Moulin, (acquired directly from the above), then Dr Edward Burkett, Dubbo, (acquired from the above), then Dr & Mrs W.S Sweetapple, Sydney, (by descent from the above), then Sotheby's, Melbourne, 24th October 2018, lot 44, then private collection, Sydney. Catalogue note: published J.B Hawkins, nineteenth century Australian silver antique Collectors club, Suffolk, England, 1990, Vol.1, p.307 (illustrated)

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  • Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.

    Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
  • Flatware - An alternative name for items of cutlery, principally knives, forks and spoons, now generally used to describe sets of these implements. Nowadays it is mostly used when describing cutlery made of silver and silver plate.

    It is less frequently used to describe all "flat' items of tableware, so that as well as cutlery the definition includes plates.
  • Old English Pattern - The Old English pattern as is commonly seen on silver flatware is characterized by a simple, clean shape with a slightly upturned tip and a broad handle that tapers gently towards the bowl or blade. The handle may be plain or decorated with a subtle design, such as a line or ridge along the edge or a small decorative motif at the tip. This pattern was first introduced in the 18th century and has remained popular ever since, making it a popular choice for traditional and formal table settings.
  • Engraving - The method of decorating or creating inscriptions on silver and other metal objects by marking the surface with a sharp instrument such as a diamond point or rotating cutting wheel.
  • Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.

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