Antique Victorian Spoon Warmer James Dixon of Sheffield shell shaped with spoon 1880s flower toothbrush holders pen pots ice cream spoon
$367.65
Stunning antique silver plated spoon warmer in the form of scallop shell complete with spoon included both marked James Dixon and Sons.
Very elegant with Classic bead borders. These table shell make an excellent display for flowers and can also be used as ice cream spoon server, cutlery holders and maybe even covered jugs.
The best warmers kept the hot water mostly covered, with an opening just big enough for convenience as this dish.
Dish :
Spread 18,5 cm/ 7,3" Height 9,5 cm / 3,7" to top of handle. Width 13 cm / 5,1"
Spoon : 17,5 cm / 6,9"long
Weight both : 509 g
Both marked underneath for the maker James Dixon of Sheffield, UK. Circa 1880.
Condition - These shell dish and spoon are in very good condition with no damage or restoration. No plate wear. Both are marked underneath for James Dixon.
Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.
Literature - These collectible items were originally made to assist in keeping food warm in the chilly Victorian houses. They were particularly useful in spooning out gravy. Nowadays they are popularly used as flower holders, toothbrush holders, pen pots etc.
Food served with a cold spoon may cool down too quickly for some tastes. Even worse, a dish with rich, fatty gravy may congeal unappealingly on its way to your plate. A decorative container filled with hot water to keep serving spoons and sauce ladles warm seemed like the perfect solution in Victorian England. The earliest spoon warmers date from the 1860s.
This makes more sense when we remember how cold British houses could be for much of the year. Until the later 20th century rooms were often poorly heated, even in wealthy homes. Households with servants urged their staff to hurry from kitchen to dining room so food could be served hot, or at least warm, on heated plates. (Keeping the plates hot was a big deal, but that’s another story.) Hot food was appetising and proof of a well-run home too. Spoon warmers played their part in the effort to serve food at the right temperature – and fitted in with all the other paraphernalia in a fashionable late 19th century dining room.
They went out of fashion early in the 20th century. It wasn’t long before magazines were suggesting you could use them as “novel” flower holders.
Since my items are vintage, it means they are aged and will have some wear. Please look at all the pictures carefully and ask questions before making your purchase.
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For environmental reasons, I try to reuse packaging materials where possible.
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