Rare silver folding biscuit box

It is rare to find a silver folding biscuit box - also known as a biscuit warmer - most are silver-plated. This lovely silver box has a cast bark-effect frame, gilded interior with pierced partitions and beautifully hand engraved exterior halves.

When open, the bowls drop to a horizontal position while the interior pierced and gilded dividers can be lifted vertically to reveal the gilded bowls where the biscuits are held.

There is no warming device inside but the box would have stood in the hearth and turned frequently so that all sides could be warmed by the fire. Once warmed, the box would be taken to the table and opened to serve the warm biscuits, teacakes or buns. The folding biscuit box is a versatile table decoration that has a multitude of uses and can be used to host a variety of other foods - nuts, berries or sweets.