Stock No. 3227	Victorian sterling silver egg cruet
Very attractive Victorian sterling silver six-egg cruet of exceptionally high quality, in the shape of a circular wicker-work basket with a rigid, curved, plaited handle. Birmingham 1853 by George Richmond Collis & Co. The silver platform on which the six egg cups stand is fixed two thirds of the way down the basket by three nuts which can be unscrewed. The upper side of the platform is engraved with scrolling leaves and six flowers. In the centre of each flower is a silver post to hold an egg cup. The platform is also engraved with the family crest of a unicorn's head looking left, beneath an Earl's coronet. In the centre a baluster stand holds six egg spoons. The egg spoons are fiddle pattern and were made in London in 1853 by George Adams. Each spoon is engraved with the same family crest as the one on the cruet. The six egg cups are plain except for a scalloped, engraved edge. They are all silver gilt on the inside and each has the same family crest engraved on its body as the crest on the cruet and the egg spoons. The whole cruet is extensively hallmarked. The cruet is fully hallmarked on the base of the fixed handle and on the reverse of the platform and the six egg cups and the six egg spoons are all fully hallmarked. The body of the basket is also stamped with the maker's mark on the outside and with the lion passant on the inner side of the base. The six silver plaques on the reverse of the platform, which hold the bolts in place are all stamped with the lion passant and the central stand is stamped with the Queen's head.
Maker :- George Richmond Collis & Co

Condition :-Extremely good condition with very crisp engraving and definition and clear hallmarks throughout.
Hallmarked :- Birmingham 1853
Size :-	6 inches (15.2 cm) diameter at base of basket 6.7 inches (17 cm) diameter at basket rim 7.7 inches (19.5 cm) high to top of handle
Weight :- 36 ozt (1120 g) in all
There is a wealth of information regarding George Richmond Collis & Co in volume I of John Culme's "Directory of Gold & Silversmiths Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914". The company succeeded to the business of Sir Edward Thomason in Birmingham in 1835 and continued manufacturing in the same exuberant and prolific style. They advertised themselves as "Manufacturers of articles in the highest Classes of the arts" and their popularity was due to their unfailingly high standard of production. The firm opened a branch in London in circa 1847. Mr. George Richmond Collis was Vice-Consul for France, Russia, Portugal, Turkey etc. This egg cruet epitomises Victorian craftsmanship at its best and would be a joy to own.

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