Antique American Silver Fish Server

• Baltimore, circa 1900 by Hennegan Bates & Company
• Dimensions: 10 1/4 inches length

The Fish Server is a broad blade or trowel shaped article, most often used for dividing and serving fish at the table. The flat surface of the fish servers suggests that they can also be used with food such as cake and breads. The earliest examples of fish servers were made about 1735 in England.

Our Antique American Silver Fish Server has a curved blade and a wonderful engraved floral, scroll and leaf design which is prevalent on the flat surface of the blade. Also, going across the blade is a section of bamboo as well as some scroll work. The handle also has lovely engraved decoration. The back of the Fish Server has a mark, Sterling, and this piece was retailed by Hennegan, Bates & Company.

Hennegan Bates & Company was a jeweler and silversmith in Baltimore, Maryland. The company existed from 1857 to approximately 1955. At that time, Baltimore emerged as an integral city of American silver and has continued to this day.