Stock No. 2325	Victorian silver vine pattern sugar sifter
A most decorative Victorian sterling silver sugar sifter in pierced vine pattern. The inside of the sifter's bowl is gilt to prevent the sugar corroding the silver. The bowl is very attractively segmented into six parts by undecorated straps. Each segment encloses the cut out decoration of vine leaves and a bunch of grapes, leaving sufficient space for the sugar to sift through. The pierced handle is decorated with entwined vine stems, leaves and grapes in high relief. The cartouche at the back of the handle is engraved with contemporary entwined initials which are probably NCT or J. The hallmarks are very clearly struck on the rim of the back of the bowl, on either side of the handle.
	Maker :- Francis Higgins

Condition :-Excellent, with extremely good hallmarks. The whole definition of the sifter is beautifully crisp
Hallmarked :- London 1854
Size :- 6.35 inches (16.1 cm) long
Weight :- 2.55 ozt (79 g)
This pattern was mainly produced for dessert services and is a mid-ninteenth century variant of the chased vine pattern. The most important difference is the pierced decoration. With patterns such as these, good condition is of the utmost importance and the condition of this very attractive piece could not be bettered. It would make an ideal gift. Francis Higgins was one of the leading silversmiths of the mid Victorian era. He had been apprenticed to George Smith and his work was always of the highest quality.

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