This is an exceptionally rare survivor and the set is in such fine condition.
On offer here are very stylish & decorative table items for fine dining.
There are four solid silver table salt dishes - each one beautifully made - and featuring double-headed swans. They are hallmarked silver and have a nice gold-gilt wash inside to protect the silver from any corrosive action of the salt.
As you can see from my photographs - these are in lovely antique condition.
They come complete with their original salt spoons. These have a bowl in the shape of a miniature scallop shell and the finial has a swan motif (beautifully modelled) sitting amongst bullrushes. Again, each spoon is hallmarked and in excellent condition.
The set comes with its original fitted case - the exterior is a black leather (a few wee scuffs to the surface here and there). The shape is very Victorian in form and of a quirky geometric shape. The interior is a claret coloured velvet all ruched in the lid. The case is in generally good antique condition - and the interior is nice and clean.
The interesting thing about these silver swans is that they are here seen in the context that they were originally made - as salt dishes with little matching shell and swan spoons. In more recent times - these silver swans seem to have been converted into pin cushions and marketed as such - they look just fine as pin cushions - but they were originally designed for your dining table - and not your sewing box!
They have the maker's mark for Hilliard & Thomason (Birmingham).
The date letter is "n" for 1887.
The dimensions of each swan are: 7 cm in length, the width is 3.3 cm and the height is just over 5cm
Individual swans retailed as sewing accessories fetch sums in the high hundreds.
Here we need to take into account there are four matching ones, the original and exquisite spoons, and the original Victorian fitted case. I don't think that you will ever see another set like them.
I will only post to UK addresses and will be using Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery service so they are fully insured in transit.