American Aesthetic Movement Sterling and Glass Canoe Form Butter Dish, c. 1880s

This is an exceptionally rare butter dish in the form of a birch-bark canoe. It is complete with its removable pierced liner and butter pick in the form of a paddle. Decorating the blade of the spear-shaped paddle are arrow heads and a star. The blown glass body is hand-cut with horizontal lines simulating a birch bark design. The sterling mounts on the ends (one with two feathers) are designed with irregular horizontal lines also depicting birch bark.

The only other known example that retains its original liner was sold at Sotheby's Jan 20, 1998 as part of the MASCO collection, lot no. 58.

This wonderful dish is only marked with the model number '50A' and 'STERLING'. It measures 10 inches long and is in great antique condition with 3 slight flakes to the edge of the glass where the insert rests.