Large Pair of Irish Silver Shell Salts, Dublin 1780

These are a wonderful pair of rare 18th century Irish silver shell-shaped salt cellars. 

These good sized salts stand on three scroll legs with the rear of the scallop shell body hooded to act as a carrying handle. The interiors of the shells are gilt with raised lobes left as silver to give a quite striking effect. 

Each salt pot is hallmarked to the underside front lip with a crowned harp, Hibernia and the script WB makers mark of William Bond. This eminent silversmith was working in Dublin between 1761 and 1805 and the salts likely date from circa 1780. To the centre of the undersides are the original scratchweights. The salt pots are in great condition throughout and are a really fine quality pair.