A Set of Six Trencher Salts

late 18th century

A set of six trencher salts with six spoons (German, Berlin, late 18th century) composed of wrought sterling silver. The trenchers are of square form with a circular trench. Grotesque animal forms sit on the top four corners, the bodies are covered in a relief frieze with scrolling leaves and portrait medallions, caryatids decorate the corners, and the whole is raised on four grotesque lion-mask scroll feet. The underside is impressed with “HS” in a square punch, a seven pointed star punch, and a quality mark of “13” (denoting .812 silver) in an oval punch over what appears to be two crossed keys with a five pointed star mark. The spoons have deep circular wells and swan tipped handles.

a= salt

b= spoon

German

sterling silver

.a (salt) = 3 1/4" x 4" x 4"

.b (spoon) = 3 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Burton Tremaine.

PSNC.9401.1ab-.6ab