In the 18th and 19th  and early 20th centuries elaborate serving pieces were used in the dining rooms of wealthy households. Food would be brought from the kitchens by the staff and placed on buffet servers at the side of the room, a butler or footman would then serve the food from the serving pieces. These pieces would come in all manner of materials and styles including silver, silver plated and porcelain.
 
This is a superb large serving piece, consisting of a dome or cloche with serving plate, (I dont think these two pieces started life together but work well) it is displaying a pineapple shaped handle to the top. A really good size and would have been a very impressive piece on the serving buffet of a dinning room or fine hotel.
 
The condition of the silver plate is very good, with just some very minor scratches from use, there are no dinges or splits to the body and is in overall good appearance.
 
Dimensions: length 41cm x 26cm deep x 17cm high.