An Outstanding Early Victorian Silver & Glass Butter Dish

A truly outstanding example of early Victorian craftmanship by the well regarded Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox. This is a superb hallmarked silver and frosted glass butter dish of substantial proportions. The butter dish is of fabulous quality, with amazing attention to detail on each section as one would expect from great makers. The body is of finely pierced and engraved silver, featuring scrolling motifs and a central vacant cartouche in the Rococo style. The rim and foot are both fully cast and pierced, with the rim featuring six charming classical masks. Two of these act as supports to the hinged swing handle, which is also fully cast, pierced and of fantastic gauge. The original fitted glass liner is frosted to the outside and is finished with a polished pontil to the base. The lid repeats the stunning intricate pierced and engraved scrolling motifs of the body and is domed. It is surmounted by a wonderfully cast goat finial, which is also hallmarked. The lid lifts to reveal the original frosted glass liner to the underside, held in place via the finial and a hallmarked wing nut. An impressive and decorative table piece, being both functional and highly collectable. Hallmarks :- Clear and readable. Hallmarks to all parts, including wing nut to finial. Date :- London 1848. Maker :- Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox.