Essex Jewelry and Antiques

Pair Antique 1773 English Sterling Silver Reviresco Crest Leaf Serving Dishes

$3,312.00

Presented is a fine quality pair of English sterling silver serving dishes made in 1773. These are most likely for serving side dishes or vegetables. They could easily be used as a pair of large gravy turrens or boats. Each piece has an undulating rim with a classical gadrooned border. The handles are beautifully cast and have wonderful acanthus leaf decoration where the handles meet the body. The four legs also have acanthus leaf decoration where they meet the body. Both pieces are engraved with an old, original crest of an elk in front of a large tree underneath the Latin phrase “Reviresco,” which translates to “I will grow strong again” or “I will flourish again.” We have been told that this crest and motto has been used by families with the name Maxwell. Each dish is very heavy for its size.

Both pieces are marked with the crowned leopard’s head for London, the lion passant for sterling silver and a date letter S for the year 1773. The hallmarks are worn on both pieces. On one of these bowls the hallmarks are quite clear on the other only the date letter in the top half of the lion passant hallmark are visible.

This set is in great overall condition for its age and the cast designs are crisp. There are some dents to the body on both pieces. These are much more visible in our photographs. The dents are mostly visible on the interior. Virtually all of the dents occur where the legs meet the body. On the inside there is nothing to hide these dents but on the outside the actual legs make these dents virtually invisible. The number of dense have most likely been straightened over the past 235+ years. There are no breaks, no splits, no monogram removals and no other repairs.

Each dish measures 3 3/4 by 7 7/8 inches, is 3 7/8 inches tall and the combined weight of the pair is 934.7 grams or 33 ounces.