US$12,696.50 ### DESCRIPTIONAntique 19th Century Victorian rare solid silver wall plaque / sideboard dish, of impressive size and weight, richly part-gilt, the centre plaque with depiction of Mars, surrounded by cartouches bearing personifications of Pax, Abundantia, Bellum and Invidia between rich scrollwork and grotesque decoration. The border shows alternating depictions of commanders (Alexander, Julius Caesar, Cyrus), and the four continents. The original dish was designed by Fraincois Briot, circa 1550-1616 a renowned pewterer and medallist. Beside the famous Temperantia plate the Mars plate by Briot is considered to be one of the most important embossments made from pewter of the Renaissance. The previously mentioned and perhaps the more commercially known piece designed by Briot and later copied by Elkington is the Venus Rosewater Dish, awarded in the Ladies' Singles at the Wimbledon tennis championships and was first presented to the Champion in 1886\. Otherwise known as the 'Temperantia' Basin is one of the highlights of the V&A's pewter collection. Hallmarked English silver (925 standard), Birmingham, year 1874 (z), Maker's mark F.E (Frederick Elkington, Elkington & Co). The firm, founded in 1815, became very popular for pioneering the electroplating and gilding techniques. It was established in Birmingham by George Richards Elkington's uncle. George Richards took over the business after his uncle's death together with his cousin Henry Elkington. A third partner, Josiah Mason who manufactured pens joined the firm from 1842 to 1861, when he left. After George Richards death in 1865 his sons successfully managed the business, which operated independently as Elkington & Co. until 1963\. In 1830s Elkington & Co. were awarded the first patents for mastering the electroplating technique which consists in applying a thin coat of silver to a different metal using electricity. The process was then brought to perfection in 1840, thanks to the recent chemical...