Lee & Wigfull | Silver-Plated Cased Cutlery Set for One | Mother-of-Pearl | c. 1890s

Lee & Wigfull | Silver-Plated Cased Cutlery Set for One | Mother-of-Pearl | c. 1890s

A place at the table for one, packed away in red velvet.

Lee & Wigfull of Sheffield made silver, plate and cutlery from the 1870s until the late 1960s. Its plate marks combine “L&W” with an anchor, which was unusual among Sheffield makers. A cased set for one keeps a knife, fork and spoon together in their own fitted box.

The set is a spoon, a fork and a knife. The spoon and fork have engraved, tapering handles with pointed ends. The knife has a mother-of-pearl handle with a decorated collar, and its blade is engraved with scrolls and a border of small ovals. They lie in a fitted case lined with red velvet, with red satin in the lid, closed with a small brass catch.

Very good condition. The fitted case is slightly loose but remains sound.

Key Details

• Maker: Lee & Wigfull, Sheffield
• Date: c. 1890s
• Contents: spoon, fork and knife
• Material: silver-plated spoon and fork; knife with mother-of-pearl handle
• Marks: “L&W” in a shaped cartouche, an anchor, “S”, and a star
• Case: fitted, red velvet and satin lining, brass catch
• Dimensions (case): length 22.5 cm; width 10.2 cm; height 2.8 cm
• Weight: 256 g
• Condition: very good
• Buyer profile: collectors of cased Victorian silver plate, and anyone looking for a keepsake gift

Collector Appeal

The knife, fork and spoon are still together in their fitted case, where the mother-of-pearl handle and engraved plate stand out against the deep red velvet.

One place setting, kept together for well over a century.