This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver paten has a circular rounded shaped form onto a tapering knopped pedestal and circular domed spreading foot.
The surface of this antique paten well is ornamented with an impressive contemporary bright cut engraved sunburst motif with the initials 'IHS'* to the centre.
The raised rounded border of the paten is embellished with two scrolling banners accented with the inscription 'St John's Church Birkenhead' and 'the gift of John Somerville Jackson, MDCCCXLV '; the roman numerals convert to the date 1845.
The rim of the body and foot of this antique paten are encompassed with an applied moulded border.
The underside of this exceptional paten bears the retailer's mark J.Mayer, Goldsmith, 68 Lord St Liverpool.
* IHS comes from the first three letters of the Latinised version 'IHSOUS' of the Greek spelling 'ΙΗΣΟΥΣ', which translates as the Holy Name of Jesus. Many perceive these initials to delineate the Latin phrase 'Iesus Hominum Salvator' meaning 'Jesus the Saviour of all Men', which is not historically accurate.
