Admiralty pattern, most pieces engraved with a crest, comprising:
6 table-spoons
15 table-forks
8 dessert-spoons
12 dessert-forks
8 teaspoons
3 sauce-ladles

111oz 14dwt, 3,475gr

Provenance:
by family tradition acquired, either as a gift or a purchase, from the Royal Navy by Rear-Admiral Hugh Webb Faulkner (1900-1969) and by descent.

The crest, 'upon a pheon a plover close, holding in the beak an ear of wheat', is that of Allsopp, as borne by the Barons Hindlip. Henry Allsop (1811-1887) was created Baronet in 1880 and 1st Baron Hindlip in 1886 so the absence of an engraved coronet on the present service doesn't rule out the crest engraved on the present service belonging to them. The family however doesn't have any obvious naval connections so it is equally possible the crest has been assumed by another family in this instance.

The rare pattern, depicting a fouled anchor below the Royal crown and within scrolls, was first made for use of Royal Naval officers in the early 19th century, with the earliest known extant pieces being hallmarked for 1838. As the present service shows it was produced by various makers through the 19th century, apparently being discontinued around the First World War. Ian Pickford notes that serving officers at the time were allowed to purchase services, though pieces are still in use in Royal Navy messes (I. Pickford, Silver Flatware English, Irish and Scottish 1660-1980, Woodbridge, 1995, p.98.