7½" square-ish silver salver

Georgian style silver salver, square with shaped moulded borders and mounted on four scroll legs. The plan surface makes this a perfect presentation piece that can be engraved with any inscription.

The word salver was a term 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. By being served on the salver indicated that this process had taken place and the food and drink was now fit for a king