An Italian silver shell butter dish, of typical form with applied shell mounted scroll shaped...

In fair to good condition, the lot displays general surface scratches, marks, wear and tarnishing commensurate with the age and use. The butter dish looks to have been gilded to the interior which appears quite dull and worn in appearance, heavier tarnishing to the underside with remnants of polish in between the decoration. The silver gilding on the cup appears slightly dull with loss of definition to the engraved decoration and facetted sides. Noticeable dent around the base and significantly worn engraved initial to the front. The base of the cup appears very bump with heavier contact marks and wear. The four Paris guarantee marks include a standard mark for 1809-1819, a standard mark for 1819-1838, pictorial mark for 1793 and further pictorial mark. Majority of marks clear and legible.