Antique Ornate Victorian (1859) Martin Hall & Co Sterling Silver Fish Server Set

  
Fantastic Rare Antique Ornate English Victorian (1859) Martin Hall & Co Sterling Silver Fish Serving Set In Original Leather, Silk & Velvet Lined Presentation Box. Breathtaking quality and work of a master silversmith of the highest order. Needs to be seen and handled to be fully appreciated as the photographs really do not do it justice. I have seen a few of these in my time but this set is absolutely the pinnacle of British Victorian silversmith craftsmanship. Most of these types of items are nearly always only silver handled with steel blades but this set is remarkably 100% hallmarked Sterling silver.

The hallmark is on both the handles and the blade. The origin of the esteemed firm of Martin Hall & Co is in the partnership established in 1820 in Sheffield by Henry Wilkinson and John Roberts who traded as Wilkinson & Roberts. Wilkinson left the business in 1836 and in 1846 John Roberts entered in partnership with Ebenezer Hall (his apprentice in 1836) under the style Roberts & Hall. In 1854 entered into the partnership Richard Martin (of Martin Brothers & Naylor) and Joshua Hall (brother of Ebenezer Hall) under the style Martin, Hall & Co.

In 1866 the firm was converted into a Ltd. The factory was active at Shrewsbury Works, Broad Street Park, Sheffield with showrooms in London (where they were listed as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplated manufacturers, silver, plated and steel cutlers), Sydney, Birmingham and Glasgow. The firm participated to the 1851 Great Exhibition, the Internation Exhibition (1862), the Sydney Exhibition (1879), the Melboune Exhibition (1881) and the 1915 British Industries Fair. Besides its sterling silver and electroplated items the firm had a successful cheap line of production on a patented white metal called "Martinoid".

Items made by Martin, Hall & Co were retailed by Wordley & Co - Liverpool, Ball & Edwards - Birmingham, Henry Ellis & Son - Exeter, Charles Nephew & Co - Calcutta, West & Son - Dublin, Goldsmiths Alliance Ltd - Cornhill, Pearce & Co - Leeds, Mappin Brothers - London, George Edward & Sons - Glasgow, James Aitchinson - Edinburgh, Mackay & Chisholm - Edinburgh and many other firms. Henry Wilkinson and John Roberts (1820). Martin Hall & Co (1854). This item is in the category "Antiques\Silver\Solid Silver\Cutlery". The seller is "santoor-uk" and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Brand: Martin Hall & Co
2. Antique: Yes
3. Pattern: Ornate / Traditional
4. Composition: Solid Silver
5. Product: Fish Serving Set / Fish Cutlery
6. Style: Victorian
7. Featured Refinements: Sterling Silver Cutlery
8. Material: Solid Silver
9. Age: 1850-1899