ANTIQUE 19thC DUTCH SOLID SILVER ORNAMENTAL STORK SPICE BOX c.1867

Antique 19th Century Dutch solid silver spice box, depicting a precariously perched stork with garnet eyes and a serpent wrapped in its beak. The figural vessel is executed in realistic detail with chased hatching of each feather and accented at the base with frog motifs.The hinged body opens at the centre to reveal a generously sized compartment to store spices, a perfect example of the Dutch propensity to combine utility and whimsy. This piece would make an eclectic decorative ornament to a dinnerware collection. Maker unknown, marked with the lion passant along the leg and 'R 1867' on the base, tested 800+ standard.

Reference Number: PD12805