William IV sterling silver fish slice, with pierced openwork decoration, the fiddle pattern handle inscribed with the letter "G", hallmarked for London 1836 and maker William Barber.
Mentions of fish slices have been noted as early as the 1730’s, and by the 19th century most silver services included a fish slice. Constructed from silver or silver plate rather than copper or other metals to avoid the possibility of affecting the taste of the fish, the form had a pierced surface to allow the juices to drain through. Early examples comprised a single symmetrical blade with the pierced surface resembling a trowel. By the Victorian period the blade had evolved to an asymmetrical form with a curved edge, and occasionally came with an accompanying matching serving fork.
Size in inches: 1 ½ h x 12 ¼ w x 2.62 d
C21309
