Walker & Hall Sheffield Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl/Salt Cellar (Vermeil Interior)
Hollowware (Small Bowl, Salt Cellar, or Dish) · Walker & Hall, a prominent Sheffield silversmith founded by George Walker in 1845. Known for high-quality production and receiving royal appointments (Queen Victoria).
Pattern: Classical Plain Border with Vermeil Interior; categorized as 'Plain Traditional Sheffield' style.
Type
Hollowware (Small Bowl, Salt Cellar, or Dish)
Maker
Walker & Hall, a prominent Sheffield silversmith founded by George Walker in 1845. Known for high-quality production and receiving royal appointments (Queen Victoria).
Material
Sterling Silver (.925) with a Vermeil (gold-washed) interior to prevent corrosion from acidic contents or salt.
Dimensions
Estimated diameter: 3-4 inches (7-10 cm). Estimated weight: 60-120 grams depending on whether the base is weighted or solid.
Description
An elegant example of early 20th-century British silvercraft, this small Walker & Hall bowl features a striking contrast between its brilliant silver exterior and its warm, golden vermeil interior. Its clean lines and lack of ornamentation make it a timeless piece of table silver.
Key Features
Sharp Sheffield 'Crown' hallmark; distinctively gold-washed interior; prestigious Walker & Hall flag-stamped maker's mark.
Material & Composition
Sterling Silver (.925) with a Vermeil (gold-washed) interior to prevent corrosion from acidic contents or salt.
Finish & Decoration
Mirror-polished exterior with a Gilt (Vermeil) interior. Simple stepped concentric ring border around the foot/base. Minimalist, traditional aesthetic.
Hallmarks & Stamps
The hallmark string includes: 1. Maker's Mark 'W&H' (Walker & Hall) in a flag/cartouche. 2. Crown (Sheffield Assay Office). 3. Lion Passant (British Sterling 925). 4. Date Letter 'a' in a shield (specifically 1918-1919 for the Sheffield cycle).
Construction Details
Machine-spun or die-stamped from a single sheet of sterling silver. The foot is likely raised or separately soldered using high-grade silver solder.
Functional Features
Vermeil lining acts as a functional barrier against chemical reactions. The wide aperture suggests a serving or condiment function.
Handle & Grip Details
None; this is a handle-less hollowware vessel designed for table placement.
Craftsmanship Details
Displays the precision typical of Sheffield's industrial peak. The soldering of the base is seamless, and the hallmarks are perfectly aligned, indicating a high level of factory quality control.
Authentication Indicators
Hallmarks are deeply struck and correctly ordered for a Sheffield piece of this period. The style of the letters and the maker's logo matches the verified register for 1918.
Origin & Manufacturing
Sheffield, England. Manufactured in the Howard Street factory of Walker & Hall, following the stringent Sheffield assay standards.
Era & Period
Late Edwardian / World War I era (1918). Reflects a transition from Victorian complexity to cleaner, more efficient 20th-century lines.
Age Estimate
1918 (Date letter 'a' for Sheffield corresponds specifically to this year).
Cultural Significance
Reflects the British ritual of formal dining where salt and condiments were treated with reverence, requiring vessels that would not tarnish upon contact with corrosive minerals.
Condition Notes
Good to Very Good. The surface shows light 'spider-web' scuffing/cleaning marks consistent with age. No deep gouges or silver-loss is visible in the provided image. Interior gilding remains largely intact.
Value Estimate
$150 - $250 USD, depending on whether it is an individual salt or a larger nut/bon-bon bowl. Weight and provenance would refine this range.
Care & Maintenance
Use a gentle silver cream (e.g., Wright's) for the exterior; avoid abrasive scrubbing on the gold-washed interior to prevent wearing away the thin gold layer. Store in a tarnish-resistant cloth bag.
Similar Pieces
Gorham (US) small bon-bon dishes or Mappin & Webb (UK) pierced salt cellars. Differences lie in the specific Sheffield hallmarks and the thickness of the silver sheet used.
Interesting Facts
Walker & Hall were pioneers in electroplating but maintained a high-end sterling division that supplied many of the finest hotels and shipping lines of the British Empire.