Unusual W&H Kitts & Werne Dome Top Ice Cream Server

American decorative design impulses of the 19th century were nothing if not imaginative. This 8 1/4" long, circa 1870, sterling silver ice cream server is testament to that. It was made by New York's Wood & Hughes, as indicated by the WwH mark, and retailed by Louisville, Kentucky's Kitts & Werne, as stamped. The shank is a triple wire form surmounted by a twisted wire, dome-capped end. The blade is asymmetrical, is engraved on the interior, and finished in a matte, bronze-colored gold wash. The condition is superb. Signs of wear are not to be found.