Trompe-l'œil Butter Shovel, Wolfers Brussels Circa 1880, Sterling Silver

Very pretty butter or pâté shovel in solid silver, late nineteenth century. It imitates "naturally" a gardener's shovel. This kind of amusing goldsmithery was very popular in the second half of the nineteenth century. It bears the hallmark of the master silversmith of the famous high jewelry house Wolfers frères in Brussels to which the National Museum of Art and History has dedicated an entire room. It weighs 37 grams.