Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Salt Cellars, Martin, Hall & Co, London 1876

A finely crafted pair of antique Victorian sterling silver salt cellars by Martin, Hall & Co, hallmarked in London in 1876. Each salt is decorated with embossed floral and foliate detail, raised on three shaped feet and finished with a decorative rim. The matched pair retains an attractive antique presence, with the original hallmarks providing a clear record of its London assay and Victorian origin.

The hallmarks include the lion passant for sterling silver, the leopard’s head for the London Assay Office, the date letter for 1876 and the profile duty mark of Queen Victoria. The maker’s mark for Martin, Hall & Co is also present, together with the pattern number 53295.

Details

• Item: Pair of antique salt cellars
• Maker: Martin, Hall & Co
• Origin: London, England
• Date / Period: 1876, Victorian era
• Material: Sterling silver
• Silver Purity: .925 sterling silver
• Marks / Hallmarks: Martin, Hall & Co maker’s mark, lion passant, London leopard’s head, 1876 date letter and Queen Victoria duty mark
• Pattern Number: 53295
• Decoration: Embossed floral and foliate design with decorative feet
• Diameter: 6 cm each
• Height: 3 cm each
• Combined Weight: 134.7 grams
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with minimal signs of age and use.

Historical and Collector Context

Martin, Hall & Co was one of the established names in Victorian British silver, known for producing both sterling silver and high-quality silver-plated wares. The company developed from a Sheffield silversmithing business and became Martin, Hall & Co in 1854, later operating from Shrewsbury Works and maintaining a wider presence in London and Birmingham.

The London hallmarks make this pair particularly appealing to collectors of Victorian sterling silver. The profile of Queen Victoria is not merely decorative: it is the duty mark used to show that the required tax on precious metal had been paid. Together with the London leopard’s head, lion passant and 1876 date letter, it provides a clear historical record for the pair.

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