This is a unique and beautiful late 1800s Spherical Butter Dish created by Wm. Holmes of Baltimore, Maryland. A perfect example of the \"Aesthetic Movement,\" it features a floral daffodil engraving on both sides of the lid, whimsical, ornate legs with hooves, and a finial resembling a fleur-de-lis, ornate banding around the center, an implement cradle for spoons, butter knives, little forks, depending upon your usage. Originally, it probably had a glass liner. Because of the spherical shape, it will be easy to place a small glass bowl into it and create your own liner. I demonstrated this by showing it with a simple glass bowl (not included). The silverplate finish on this piece is amazing, no scratches or loss of silver, it shines up perfectly. There is one very shallow indent on the lid that barely shows, almost not worth mentioning and doesn\'t detract. I will also include the Sterling Silver weighty little butter knife shown with the butter dish. The spoon is from 1921 and not original to the piece, but it\'s nice to have a sterling silver butter knife that fits the cradle on this piece so well. 8\" high
7 1/8\" wide