Victorian Sterling Silver Butter best Knife, Hilliard & Thomason, Birmingham, 1896

This is a very decorative large late Victorian Sterling Silver Butter Knife. The scimitar shaped blade has scroll decoration along the upper edge and engraving down the front of the stem. The finial is oval with fan and scroll decoration and a central blank cartouche.

The butter knife is made in Birmingham by Hilliard and Thomason and dates to 1896. John Hilliard and John Thomason began their partnership in the late 1840s. They were immediately successful and produced a very wide range of silverware best. Their firm remained in business up until around 1910.

Condition is very good, with just a tiny ding at the very tip of the blade and the superficial surface wear that you would expect after over 125 years of good service. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The butter knife is 16.1cm / 6.3ins long and weighs in at a very respectable 27.3g / 0.96oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks on the underside of the stem are crisp and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the anchor assay mark for Birmingham, the Gothic date letter w for 1896 and the H & T makers' mark for Hilliard & Thomason.