Stock No. 2717	Pair Victorian silver Hunt & Roskell butter shells
	Elegant pair of Victorian sterling silver butter shells of excellent quality. London 1889. By Robert Roskell, Allan Roskell and John Mortimer Hunt working under the name of Hunt & Roskell. The butter shells are made in the shape of clam shells and are each supported on the reverse by three feet in the shape of snail or cockle shells. The hallmarks are very clearly stamped on the reverse of the flat edge by which the shell is held and are over stamping another. Both shells have a serial number stamped near the hallmarks, 128 and 129.
Maker :- Robert Roskell, Allan Roskell & John Mortimer Hunt known as Hunt and Roskell

Condition :-Excellent with good definition, a pleasing patina and crisp hallmarks
Hallmarked :- London 1889
Size :- 4.1 inches (10.4 cm) long x 4.2 inches (10.7 cm) at widest point
Weight :- 4.45 ozt (138.3 g)
Apart from serving butter, these shells can be put to many other uses. Also, they look extremely decorative lying empty on the dining table. Robert Roskell, Allan Roskell and John Mortimer Hunt (Hunt and Roskell) were the last of the dynasty of excellent silversmiths which began with Paul Storr's company Storr & Co. in1819. The chronology is as follows: Storr & Co (Paul Storr) 1819 - 1822 Storr & Mortimer 1822 - 1838 Mortimer & Hunt 1839 - 1843 Hunt & Roskell 1843 - 1897 acquired by J. W. Benson 1889 Hunt and Roskell Ltd 1897 - circa 1965 There is nothing unusual in the fact that the hallmark is overstriking another. The scale of their business was such that Storr and Mortimer and their successors were noted for being supplied with additional silver by many excellent silversmiths, including Robert Hennell, William Theobalds & Co, Francis Higgins, Chawner & Co, Rawlings & Summers and many others.

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