The Samuel M. Felton 'Medallion' Sterling Silver Covered Butter Dish, George Sharp for Bailey & Co., c. 1865

This important butter dish features decoration of neoclassical medallions (12 of them) and elaborate casting and hand chasing.  Both the lid and base feature bands of chased neoclassical decoration including:  anthemion leaves and acanthus based fluid foliate designs, much of it on various hand-chased matte finishes in the background.  The pedestal base rests on four cast and applied feet of foliate decoration surrounding a neoclassical medallion. The handle on the lid is adorned with cast winged griffins similar to the entree server, finished with very fine hand chasing.

It measures 8 inches high and weighs 30.6 troy ounces. It is marked with the 'lion, "S", shield' trademark that Bailey & Co. used on their sterling silver, another lion passant mark and 'BAILEY & C^O CHESTNUT S^T PHILA'. It is monogrammed 'S.M.F.' in an Old English style in one reserve on the side.

George Sharp had been Bailey & Co.'s silver shop foreman until he started his own business in 1861, when Bailey discontinued the in-house manufacture of silver. Bailey continued to order silver from Sharp and the Felton pieces bear Bailey & Co.'s marks, indicating that Sharp continued to use the Bailey marks on Bailey retailed silver even after starting his own shop.

Condition: Very good except for some restoration to the lid near the finial.

Our Price:  Entire service sold en suite.