Sterling silver meat skewer, London 1749 possible maker Lewis Haman
Georgian sterling silver meat or game bird skewers were functional flatware used to hold joints of meal or poultry in place while being carved. They are still used today, the larger for cuts of beef or veal and the thinner for game birds and poultry. The secondary purpose was to test if the meat or poultry was fully cooked, as silver is a good heat conductor this would allow the meat to be cooked from within. Skewers often had an ornate design usually with an oblong or lozenge shaped blade section, with the upper portion often featuring a ring loop or finger piece which would make it easy to pull from the joint when serving. This exposed upper section was often engraved with heraldic crests or initials to identify the hosting household. During the 19th century the decoration of skewers developed to include bead and reed ornamentation or shell designs on the tapering shaft, and skewers were often incorporated into canteens and flatware sets.
Size: 10 h
C19860
