This exceptional and large antique George IV sterling silver meat skewer/letter opener* has a tapered form.
The surface of this skewer is embellished with a contemporary bright cut engraved crest** of upon a naval crown thereon a fox passant, all below the plain circular ring loop finger piece.
The reverse surface is plain and unembellished apart from the featured hallmarks.
The initials within the maker's marks, in addition to the standardisation of the surround could pertain to a multitude of antique silversmiths; these silvermsiths include William Eaton, Esterbrook and Eley II.
This impressive skewer is larger example of its type than you would expect to find.
* The original use of this item was purely as a silver meat skewer. Due to its form, this piece may certainly be used as an effective letter opener.
** Given the evidence of the crest (with its label of three points charged upon the fox's breast) engraved upon this meat skewer it was undoubtedly in the possession of Rear Admiral Edward Le Cras Thornbrough (born 1st March 1795 died 25th December 1857) the only surviving child of Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough, GCB and his first wife, Ann Le Cras. Rear Admiral Thornbrough was son and grandson of Royal Naval officers. His father Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough was a senior, long-serving veteran officer of the Royal Navy during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century having seen action in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars; whilst his grandfather was Commander Edward Thornbrough. Rear Admiral Thornbrough entered the Royal Navy in 1806 and saw action throughout the later Napoleonic period on both the Home and Mediterranean stations. He married Emily Raikes Garrett, the second daughter of Daniel Garrett, of Colt House, near Honiton in the County of Devon on the 30th November 1820. Read this items heraldic identification report.
Maker: Unknown
Date: 1826
