14" Bath style salver

Large modern sterling silver recreation of a Bath style salver, mounted on four feet.

The word salver was used in England from the mid-seventeenth century to denote a flat tray without handles, usually made of silver. Like this one, some salver designs feature supporting feet - usually three or four.

The word derives from the Latin salvare meaning to save. Originally, food or drink intended for royalty would be initially tasted by a servant for signs of poison before it reached the royal top table. Being served on the salver indicated that this process had taken place and the food and drink was now fit for a king.

Salvers later became commonplace in aristocratic and wealthy homes and Samuel Pepys is recorded as an owner of a salver, signifying his high social standing.