Immense Bright Cut c. 1880 Sterling Silver Shovel Server

Massively scaled, this serving piece measures 10 3/4" long and weighs 4.4 T. oz.

Shovel form, it has a blade that is 4 1/2" long and 3 5/8" wide at the splayed end.

This has notched shoulders, wide flanged edges, and a central raised groove in the base.

The surface is extensively engraved in a leaf and flower motif with wriggle work on the flanged edges.

The handle is Old English with a rounded end and tipt backside. The front is bright cut engraved in a design that matches that in the bowl, and includes an open reserve area that in this instance has never been inscribed.

The backside is plain save for the word "Sterling." While without a maker's identification, the style of the work and form mirror other pieces of Philadelphia origin circa 1880.

Apart from some light surface scratches on the backside of the bowl, and the apparent loss of an original gold finish in the interior, given that faint traces remain, this is without evidence of use. It is free of bends, nicks, or dents in the bowl, the engraving remains crisp and well-defined, and it shows a brilliant finish overall.