Large Rare Antique (1924) Ornate English Walker & Hall Hallmarked Silver Plated Galleried Comport (11”/28cm, 750g).
Please browse all 12 photographs attached for size, weight and condition as they are self explanatory. Very elegant centrepiece made by a master silversmith of the highest order. Marvellous weight and feel and a superb example of the best of British silver plate workmanship from King George V period.
weighs approximately 750g. There are not too many of these in existence. A fantastic and much sought after collector's dish made by the esteemed British Silversmiths of repute Walker & Hall.
This dish is close to 100 years old and whilst obviously not 100% perfect it is in excellent condition. Condition is commensurate with age. Silver plating is generally intact although there are signs of use and some wear to the silver plating so please browse all photographs carefully and enlarge them if necessary. There is no dent nor damage although there are superficial surface friction marks and a little wear to the plating. I assume these can be polished out although they are in no way detrimental to the look and feel of the item.
Fantastic dish. Lovely quality. Needs to be seen and handled to be fully appreciated appreciated as the photographs really do not do it justice.
In 1840 George Walker, a Sheffield cutler, and Dr. Wright, a surgeon, worked out the process of electroplating and formed the business of Walker and Co (of Sheffield). In 1843 Henry Hall who was a Worcester solicitor and a man of business joined Walker to set up the first plant in Sheffield, their formal partnership dating from 1845.
Walker & Hall business was established in Sheffield in 1845 by George Walker. Becoming an assistant of Dr. John Wright who had conducted important experiments on electroplating Walker secured the royalty of electroplating for Sheffield. The business was joined by Henry Hall and became in 1853 Walker & Hall. The factory was at Howard Street, Sheffield, while showrooms were opened in 45 Holborn Viaduct, London. Branches were opened in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, Hull, Bristol, Melbourne and Adelaide (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa). Walker & Hall was converted into a limited liability company in 1920 under the style Walker & Hall Ltd and combined in 1963 under the British Silverware Ltd with Mappin & Webb and Elkington & Co. Walker and Hall Sheffield were primarily Sheffield Makers, but items with Birmingham, London and Chester Assay Marks can also be found.
CHRONOLOGY:
Walker & Co, 1845-1848
Walker, Coulson & Hall, 1848-1853
Walker & Hall 1853-1920
Walker & Hall Ltd, 1920-the present
part of British Silverware Ltd, 1963-1971
a subsidiary of Mappin & Webb Ltd, a member of Sears Holdings Ltd since 1971