A very rare George III Fish Slice made in London in 1815 by William & Samuel Knight.

A very rare George III Fish Slice made in London in 1815 by William & Samuel Knight.

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The blade is of typical form and is pierced and engraved with pluming scrolls in addition to two central doves holding a stylised olive branch.  To the left the Prince of Wales feathers is shown and to the right the Crown of the Monarch, both finely engraved and pierced in oval frames.  The fiddle pattern handle is unusually engraved with a beaded border.  This piece is in exceptional, crisp, condition and is very well marked on the reverse.  Our heraldic researcher has concluded that the badge on the left is the Prince of Wales feathers and the Crown is that of the British Monarch.  In combination these refer to the Prince Regent, later George IV, who was effectively Prince of Wales and King of Great Britain from 1811 to 1820.  The two birds represent doves of peace holding an olive branch.  As this fish slice has to have been assayed after 30th May, 1815 and the Battle of Waterloo was on the 18th June, this means that it must be seen as emblematic of the peace caused by the final defeat of Napolean in France by the Allied army commanded by the Duke of Wellington for Britain and Field Marshall Von Blucher for Prussia.

Length: 12 inches.

Width, at the widest point: 2.6 inches.

Weight: 5oz.


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