Antique Scottish Silver Menu Holders of Peacocks

These menu holders are by the lesser-known Scottish silversmith George S Belfield and are considered reasonably rare among collectors, insofar as cast work by George Belfield is more widely associated with decanter labels. Whether they were a commission or test pieces is unclear, but the scarcity of other examples, combined with the date of the Assay would seem to indicate they predate the bulk of his more commercial work. What can be in no doubt is they would grace any dining table and simultaneously provide a talking point amongst dinner guests.