Pair of Rare Britannia Standard 17th Century Muffineers
Pair of rare William and Mary Britannia Standard silver bun shaped lidded muffineers or casters, the pierced lid decorated with a flower on top, the sides decorated with the crest "Serva Jugum" (Keep the Yoke). Both muffineers and one lid hallmarked for Britannia Standard, London 1698 and with maker mark for Joseph Bird, one top for sterling, London 1691 and maker possibly John Richardson.
After the English Civil War the demand for silver household goods rose and wrought plate (unworked sterling silver) was in short supply. In 1697, the Britannia Standard for silver was introduced by an Act of Parliament to stop the use of British currency (sterling silver coins) being melted for use in household goods, hallmarked with the new Britannia Standard silver mark replacing the lion passant and the leopard head crowned. With a higher percentage of silver (95.833%) in comparison to sterling (92.5%), this higher standard meant that sterling silver coins could not easily be used as source material. Britannia Standard was compulsory for domestic silver until the 1st of June, 1720, when sterling was again approved for use. Most silversmiths reverted to sterling but Britannia has remained an optional standard since, and due to their rarity and quality Britannia Standard silver pieces are sought-after by collectors.
Size: 4 h in
C21008