Pair Victorian silver fish servers in case

This wonderfully flamboyant pair of silver fish servers has hand-pierced and engraved decoration to the blades and embossed handles depicting stylised dolphins and the mask of Neptune. The knife blade is engraved with the figure of a mermaid holding a trident facing a dolphin and bull rushes. The fork head is similarly engraved with dolphins and bulrushes. This set is in its original fitted case.

The precursor to fish servers was the fish slice. Made of silver or silver plate, the fish slice featured a flat, symmetrical blade designed for serving fish at the table and first appeared in the mid-1700s. About 100 years later the Victorians adapted the form to a wide scimitar-shaped blade, often pierced and engraved, with a flat or decorative cast handle, and then accompanied by a wide-tined matching fork. Hence the advent of the silver and silver-plated fish servers.

The best examples of silver and silver-plated fish servers are often finely pierced and embellished with engraved marine motifs, mother-of-pearl or carved ivory handles. Aside from their beauty, they are practical too. The broad blade helps lift the fish while keeping it in one piece, and the sharp point of the blade is useful to peel away fish bones.