Set of six silver swan menu or place card holders

Set of six sterling silver place card holders or menu holders made by Asprey & Co. They are classically styled as scallop-edged discs, each featuring a pierced and openwork figure of a swan. The swans are nicely engraved to show their feathering, water ripples and are individually gilded to highlight the detail.

As a fine and traditional addition to fine dining, it was the Victorians who first introduced menu holders to our dining tables. Silver menu holders and place card holders were first created to hold a card displaying the menu and, rather than putting a place card holder and name in front of each diner as we often do today, silver menu holders were spread and passed around the dining table.