Germany Hanau 1820 Neoclassical Decorative Dish Plate In Solid Sterling Silver

Neo-Classic sterling silver decorative dish plate.

An antique piece made in the state of Hanau during the German Imperial period, circa 1820. It was crafted in solid sterling silver with neo-classic, Louis XVII patterns. Featuring tassels with trims and bows, accentuated with four high relief framed ovals, with portraits of nobles very finely dressed, most probably the portraits of the original owners, back in the 19th century.

Has a total weight of 278.4 grams and a diameter of 8.5 inches (21.6 cm).

Stamped in the reverse, with, the maker's mark, multiples hallmarks from the state of Hanau and the German control assay marks.

Hanau silver was largely imported in UK between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Berthold Mueller was an import firm, who distributed a lot of Neresheimer silver - see John Culme: The Directory of Gold-and Silversmiths, Jewelers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, Vol.1 page, page 335. The firm changed its name 1915 to Berthold Miller and was listed as wholesale silversmiths and jewelers, antique reproduction in silver, ivories, miniatures, enamels, and so forth.

Another importer of Hanau silver was J.G.Piddington which was independent of Berthold Muller and an import firm in their own right, see Culme, page 423 under John George Smith &Co. The shipping and forwarding business was founded in 1849, the firm was a partnership between J.Friend and J. Piddington. The grandson of Piddington, John G.Smith jr. took the surname of his grandfather in 1900. J.G. Smith & Co are noted to have imported a great deal of silver, apparently an important part of their business until 1939. Many of these items, decorative in nature, to be of German origin. A privately printed and illustrated history of this firm exists, called 'Vitesse, The Story of Continental Express', published in 1949.

It is in great antique condition with no bumps or marks

INVENTORY REF: D0000ACNL/.1111