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| Matthew Boulton Antique Silver Bon-Bon Dishes (Pair)
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Reference: S11443
Period: George III
Year: 1806, 1807
Silversmith: Matthew Boulton
Place: Birmingham
Price: $ 560.00
Weight: 171 grams
Dimensions: 10.2 cm diameter
Condition: Excellent.
Description: An interesting pair of small circular dishes or pin trays, made by the most famous of all Birmingham silversmiths, Matthew Boulton. The dishes are plain except for a gadrooned border, the quality is excellent, surprisingly heavy for such small dishes. The condition is very pleasing, and there is no engraving. They are similar in shape to larger dinner plates, but with a deeper well, hence our description as dishes, we assume for a small delicacy like bon-bons, a modern version of this dish would be called a pin tray. The hallmarks on both dishes are clear, the MB makers mark has clear indentations to the punch above the M and below the B. One dish has date letter i for 1806, the second has date letter j for 1807, the earlier dish is 9 grams heavier, otherwise they are an identical pair, so we assume they were made by hand just as the date letter was changing. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) took over his father's silver business at age 21, the first step in a remarkable career as one of the leading entrepreneurs of his day. In addition to his work as a silversmith, he commercialized the mass manufacture of Sheffield plate, and also was responsible for the establishment of the Birmingham assay office in 1773. Today he is best remembered for his development of steam engines with partner James Watt, which enabled factories and mills to mechanize. He also founded the Soho Mint, producing the first British copper coinage in a quarter century. We highly recommend the book "The Great Silver Manufactory" which covers his silversmithing from 1760-1790.
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Matthew Boulton Antique Silver Bon-Bon Dishes (Pair)
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Matthew Boulton Birmingham 1807 silver hallmarks
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Matthew Boulton Birmingham 1806 silver hallmarks
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Matthew Boulton Antique Silver Bon-Bon Dishes back
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Matthew Boulton silver with scale
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