ANTIQUE SILVER BUTTER SHELLS DISHES
Our range of fine sterling silver antique butter dishes and butter shells are available to purchase online. To see an enlarged silver butter dish simply click on the image. We feature a number of types and makers including Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian. All antique butter dishes bought online go through a secure payment system and deliveries are insured during transit. You may also be interested in Antique Silver Bon Bon Dishes or Antique Silver Dishes.
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#j9365 - |
A very handsome pair of Antique Georgian Sterling Silver butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, shaped thumb-pieces with hand-engraved floral borders, and both sitting on three cast Conch shell-shaped feet. These beautiful antique silver butter shells were made by Hester Bateman of London in 1782. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dish shells are length 15 cms (6 inches), width 12.5 cms (5 inches), and they have a total weight of approx. 211g (6.8 troy ounces). |
£2,775 |
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#b6914 -
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A very handsome Antique Victorian Sterling Silver butter shell and original butter knife, the shell having a hand-chased scalloped body, and sitting on three ball feet, the butter knife in the Old English Shell pattern, and all in their original green satin and velvet-lined presentation box. Made by John & William Deakin of Sheffield in 1898. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter dish and knife are length of dish 10 cms (4 inches), width 8.5 cms (3.25 inches), length of knife 10.5 cms (4.25 inches), and they weigh a total of approx 51g (1.6 troy ounces). |
£245 |
SOLD |
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#l7572 -
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A very handsome Antique Victorian Sterling Silver butter shell and original butter knife, the shell having a hand-chased scalloped body, and sitting on three ball feet, the butter knife in the Old English Shell pattern, and all in their original blue satin and velvet-lined presentation box. Made by John & William Deakin of Sheffield in 1896. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter dish and knife are length of dish 10 cms (4 inches), width 8.5 cms (3.25 inches), length of knife 10.5 cms (4.25 inches), and they weigh a total of approx 47g (1.5 troy ounces). |
£245 |
SOLD |
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#L4252 -
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A very handsome Antique Victorian Sterling Silver butter shell dish and butter knife, having a hand-chased scalloped body, and sitting on three cast conch-shell feet. The butter shell made by Francis Higgins of London in 1885, and the butter knife made by Charles Boyton of London in 1887. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter dish shell are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 10 cms (4 inches), and the total weight including knife is approx 98g (3.2 troy ounces). |
£265 |
SOLD |
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#4986 -
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An Antique Victorian Silver Plated revolving top butter dish, having a hand-chased oval body with fluted decoration and bead-edged border, a frosted glass removable internal liner, and sitting on four cast lions paw feet. All made by Alexander Clark & Co., in ca. 1890. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver-plated butter dish are length 22 cms (8.75 inches), height 14 cms (5.5 inches), and width 15 cms (6 inches). |
£275 |
SOLD |
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#5955 -
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A pretty Antique Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three ball feet. These beautiful silver shell butter dishes were made by the Atkins Brothers of Sheffield in 1915. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 8 cms (3.25 inches), and they have a total weight of approx. 71g (2.3 troy ounces). |
£285 |
SOLD |
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#l4483 -
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A very unusual Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and crystal butter dish and cover in an Arts and Crafts style, having a panelled crystal body with two side-handles, a lift-off plain round cover with handle, and all sitting in a plain round plate with a flat base. This elegant antique silver butter dish and cover was made by John Grinsell of London in 1893. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter dish are diameter 8.5 cms (3.3 inches), height width 11 cms (4.25 inches), height 3.5 cms (1.3 inch), with a total weight of approx. 60g (2 troy ounces). |
£295 |
SOLD |
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#j7679 -
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A very pretty Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver butter shell dish, having a hand-chased scalloped body, a hand-pierced handle with scroll-work and applied foliate border, and all sitting on three ball feet. This beautiful antique silver butter shell was made by Thomas Latham & Ernest Morton of Chester in 1902. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter dish shell are length 14 cms (5.5 inches), width 12.5 cms (5 inches), and it weighs approx 75g (2.4 troy ounces). |
£325 |
SOLD |
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#5358 -
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An Antique Victorian Silver Plated butter dish and cover, having an oval crystal body with panels of hand-cut and frosted decoration, a lift-off hand-engraved lid with a cast cow finial, and all sitting on a hand-engraved and pierced lobed oval dish. Made in ca. 1880. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver plated butter dish are height 8 cms (3 inches), length 23 cms (9 inches), and width 19 cms (7.5 inches). |
£345 |
SOLD |
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#b8974 -
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An Antique Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three ball feet. All made by Henry Atkins of Sheffield in 1913. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 10 cms (4 inches), height 2.5 cms (1 inch), and they have a total weight of approx. 113g (3.6 troy ounces). |
£365 |
SOLD |
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#b7155 -
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An Antique Victorian Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three ball feet. All made by Mappin & Webb of Sheffield in 1901. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 9.5 cms (3.75 inches), height 2 cms (0.75 inches), and they have a total weight of approx. 146g (4.7 troy ounces). |
£385 |
SOLD |
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#b7219 -
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An Antique Victorian Silver Plated revolving top butter dish, having a hand-chased oval body with floral decoration and bead-edged border, a frosted glass removable internal liner, and sitting inside a cast frame with floral swags and four cast feet. All made in ca. 1880. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver-plated butter dish are length 20 cms (8 inches), height 13 cms (5 inches), and width 15 cms (6 inches). |
£395 |
SOLD |
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#l3517 -
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A very pretty pair of Antique Victorian Sterling Silver butter shells or dishes, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three ball feet. All made by Finlay and Taylor of Birmingham in 1889. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes or shells are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 11 cms (4.3 inches), height 3 cms (1.25 inches), and they have a total weight of approx. 135g (4.3 troy ounces). |
£395 |
SOLD |
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#l7876 -
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A pretty Antique Victorian Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three ball feet. These beautiful silver shell butter dishes were made by the Atkins Brothers of Sheffield in 1895. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes are length 12.5 cms (5 inches), width 10 cms (4 inches), and they have a total weight of approx. 124g (4 troy ounces). |
£395 |
SOLD |
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#b0743 -
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A very pretty Sterling Silver pair of Art Deco style butter dishes, having octagonal bodies with applied bead-edged borders, with removable hand-cut crystal dishes, and a pair of silver butter servers, all sitting in their original cream satin and black velvet-lined presentation box. Made by the Adie Brothers of Birmingham in 1936. The dimensions of this fine hand-made set of silver butter dishes and servers are width 11 cms (4.25 inches), height 2.5 cms (1 inch), with a total weight of approx. 145g (4.7 troy ounces). |
£445 |
SOLD |
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#b9777 -
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A very handsome and unusual Sterling Silver covered butter shell dish, having a hand-chased scalloped body, a hinged cover with a cast thumb-piece and knife slot, with a ring side-handle, a frosted cut removable liner, and all sitting on three cast reeded feet. Made by Henry Matthews of Birmingham in 1922. The dimensions of this fine hand-made silver butter dish shell are length 16.5 cms (6.5 inches), width 14 cms (5.5 inches), and it weighs approx 179g (5.7 troy ounces). |
£445 |
SOLD |
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#b9083 -
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An Antique Victorian Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having traditional scallop shapes, and sitting on three cast shell feet, together with a pair of original butter knives in the Albany pattern, and all sitting in an original maroon satin and velvet-lined presentation box. All made by John and William Deakin of Sheffield in 1886. The dimensions of this fine hand-made set of antique silver butter shells and knives are length 12.5 cms (5 inches), width 10.5 cms (4.25 inches), with a total weight of approx. 182g (5.9 troy ounces). |
£475 |
SOLD |
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#l3809 -
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A very handsome Sterling Silver pair of neoclassical style butter dishes, having round bodies with applied reeded borders and hand-pierced gallery sides, with two cast side handles and original removable hand-cut crystal dishes with star-cut bases, all sitting on three cast and fluted flange feet, together with a pair of silver butter knives in the Albany pattern. All sitting in their original cream satin and black velvet-lined presentation box. The butter dishes made by Henry Moreton of Birmingham in 1924, and the butter knives by Gibson and Langman of London in 1896. The dimensions of this fine hand-made set of silver butter dishes are diameter 11 cms (4.25 inches), height 4 cms (1.5 inches), length of butter knives 14 cms (5.5 inches), with a total weight of approx. 186g (6 troy ounces). Please note that the satin hinges to the box are damaged. |
£475 |
SOLD |
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#l6042 -
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A handsome Antique Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having traditional scallop shapes, and sitting on three ball feet, together with a pair of original butter knives, and all sitting in their original blue satin and velvet-lined presentation box. All made by Roberts and Belk of London in 1914. The dimensions of this fine hand-made set of antique silver butter shells and knives are length 12.5 cms (5 inches), width 10 cms (4 inches), with a total weight of approx. 148g (4.8 troy ounces). |
£475 |
SOLD |
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#b8322 -
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A very handsome Antique Victorian Sterling Silver pair of butter shells, having hand-chased scalloped bodies, plain shaped thumb-pieces, and both sitting on three cast shell-shaped feet. All made by Walker and Hall of Sheffield in 1897/99. The dimensions of these fine hand-made antique silver butter dishes are length 13 cms (5 inches), width 11 cms (4.25 inches), height 2.5 cms (1 inch), and they have a total weight of approx. 163g (5.25 troy ounces). |
£495 |
SOLD |
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#l2851 -
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A very handsome Antique Georgian Sterling Silver butter shell, having a hand-chased traditional scallop shape, and sitting on three cast conch shell feet. Made by William Plummer of London in 1790. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter shell are length 14.5 cms (5.75 inches), width 12 cms (4.75 inches), and with a weight of approx. 110g (3.5 troy ounces). Please note that this item is crested. |
£675 |
SOLD |
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#5523c -
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A very handsome Antique Georgian Sterling Silver butter shell, having a hand-chased traditional scallop shape, and sitting on two cast conch shell feet. Made by William Plummer of London in 1764. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter shell are length 14 cms (5.5 inches), width 12 cms (4.75 inches), and with a weight of approx. 87g (2.8 troy ounces). Please note that this item is crested. |
£685 |
SOLD |
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#l6834 -
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A very pretty Sterling Silver and crystal butter dish and cover, having a panelled lift-off lid with wooden finial, an original crystal liner with star-cut base sitting inside a panelled dish with hand-cut floral border and flat base. This beautiful antique silver butter dish and cover was made by Emile Viner of Sheffield in 1936. The dimensions of this fine hand-made silver butter dish and cover are diameter 15 cms (6 inches), height 8.5 cms (3.3 inch), with a total weight of approx. 286g (9.2 troy ounces). |
£695 |
SOLD |
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#4968 -
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An Antique Georgian, George II, Sterling Silver butter shell, having a traditional shell-style body, and sitting on two cast shell feet. Made by Jacob Marsh of London in 1750. The dimensions of this fine hand-made antique silver butter shell are length 13 cms (5 inches), width 13 cms (5 inches), and it weighs approx. 146g (4.7 troy ounces). Please note that this item is crested |
£845 |
SOLD |
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#j6513 -
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Antique Victorian sterling silver pair of butter shells, having a traditional scallop shape, cast shell and gadroon border, and sitting on two cast shell feet. One made by Robert Garrard of London in 1840 and the other made by William Cumming of London in 1856. Both are crested. Length 13 cms (5 inches), width 13.5 cms (5.25 inches). Total weight approx. 315g (10 troy ounces). |
£975 |
SOLD |
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#b6326 -
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An Antique Victorian Sterling Silver set of four butter shells, having traditional scallop shapes, and sitting on three cast shell feet, together with four original butter knives in the Albany pattern, and all sitting in an original purple satin and velvet-lined presentation box. All made by Frances Higgins of London in 1884. The dimensions of this fine hand-made set of antique silver butter shells are length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 10 cms (4 inches), with a total weight of approx. 385g (12.4 troy ounces). |
£1,145 |
SOLD |
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#4372 -
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Antique Georgian sterling silver pair of butter shells, having applied gadroon borders, shell-style bodies, and sitting on two cast shell feet. Made by the Royal Goldsmith and Silversmith Thomas Heming of London in 1779. Please note that both are crested. Length 12 cms (4.75 inches), width 11 cms (4.5 inches). Total weight approx. 180g (5.8 troy ounces). |
£2,295 |
SOLD |
Learn more about antique silver BUTTER SHELLS DISHES here.
Antique Silver BUTTER SHELLS DISHES description:
A small dish, sometimes covered, used on the dining table to hold a butter pat, or individual butter scrolls.
Antique Silver BUTTER SHELLS DISHES history:
Butter shells were made from the early part of the 18th century and are still being made today. The earliest covered butter dishes were made from about 1750, most being made in the Victorian period, and they are quite rare after the 1940s.
Antique Silver BUTTER SHELLS DISHES design:
The butter shells were reallistically modelled on, and roughly the same size as, scallop shells. They were made with either two or three feet often in the shape of conch shells or simple ball feet. The covered butter dishes were usually circular with a separate serving dish underneath, and a removable cover to protect the butter from insects. The cover often had a finial that reflected the dairy theme such as a cow.
Antique Silver BUTTER SHELLS DISHES collectors note:
Butter shells, especially early 18th century ones, must be inspected closely to make sure that there are no cracks, and no repairs where the feet are attached to the body. The butter dishes are quite rare in silver and must have matching hallmarks on the main body, dish (if separate), and lid. If there is a removable finial it must also be marked with a part mark. Most covered butter dishes are made in the Victorian period from silver plate, with the main butter container being made from the hand-cut crystal.