Antiques Hunter

The item I have chosen to study is this Rococo style toast holder (listed as “old toast holder”). The seller has said that the age is unknown, but s/he has added that the hallmark on the back is of the piece is a flag with W&H on it which, after further research, I have found to be the logo for the company “Walker& Hall”. Given that this company was founded in 1899, and the Rococo movement was during the 1800’s, we can say that this isn’t an original Rococo piece, but rather an example of a Rococo revival.

The Rococo style is well known for its motifs such as arabesque elements, scrolls, branches of leaves, flowers and sometimes shells and small birds, of which this piece displays many. The main base/crumb catcher is formed as the concave inside shape of a shell, and there is a leaf sculpting on the handle. Having the leaf on the handle of this piece is also an example of how, in Rococo design, ornamentation would often encroach on the functionality of the object.

The shapes in Rococo design were originally based on ribbons; later forms consisted mainly of elongated C- and S-shapes. These forms can be seen in the curving grid of the bread holder, with each of the main line sections in the shape of elongated S’s. In addition to this the handle of the piece references a curved C.

The use of silver, whether sterling or plate, gives the impression that this piece was inspired more specifically by German/Dutch Rococo. Silver was used in Rococo first in the Netherlands; it was then adopted by popular Rococo in the 1740’s, and developed a lot by Germany.

It could be argued that the stylisation of this piece is not completely Rococo in inspiration. This idea is evident in the grid of the bread holder, where there is a noticeable absence of the eccentric ornamentation which is a trademark of Rococo design. The point remains that this is a revival piece, created around the time of the design reform, which means that this absence of ornamentation could be a result of the influence of minimalistic ideals from the period it was created.


TradeMe link: http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-collectables/silver-metalware-tins/silver/sterling/auction-469216507.htm



Coffin, S., Davidson, G., Lupton, E., & Hunter-Stiebel, P. (2008). Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008. New York, United States: Assouline Publishing.

"rococo." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. (2011), Retrieved April 24, 2012 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-rococo1.html

Kitson, M. (1997). Art Periods: ROCOCO STYLE. Retrieved April 24, 2012 from http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Art/rococo.sh