Silver fish slice, A.F. van Wijk, Amsterdam, 1890

Silver fish slice or serving spoon made by the silversmith A.F. van Wijk (Albertus Franciscus van Wijk). He was a renowned Amsterdam silversmith who was active in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. He was part of a broader and respected tradition of Dutch silversmiths, with the Van Wijk family playing a prominent role in Amsterdam's silver production throughout the 19th century.

Van Wijk was particularly known in the silver world for his high-quality serving implements. He not only made functional fish servers but also soup ladles, sugar sifters, sauce ladles, and cake servers. His workshop produced tableware that was both technically complex and elegant, intended for the wealthy bourgeoisie who, at the time, greatly valued a richly decorated and etiquette-correct dinner table.

The slice has a characteristic flat, wide, and fan-shaped blade specifically designed to serve delicate fish motifs or portions of fish intact. The geometric, radially cut saw work in the middle of the blade was originally intended to allow excess cooking liquid, fat, or sauce to drain directly while serving.

The slice is hallmarked with the second-grade silver mark, Minerva head, year letter F for 1890, and master's mark AVW with a fish above it.

The bowl of the spoon is exceptionally beautifully sawed.

Weight: 84 grams. Dimensions: 7.5 x 23 cm.

Check here the blog about silver fish slices and fish servers: elegant serving spoons from the 19th century