Vintage Shell Butter/Caviar Dish with Ruby Glass Insert, Silver Serving Dish, Storage Box

A striking vintage shell-shaped serving dish in silver-tone metal with an unusual and rare ruby red glass insert. Pieces of this type are most often found with clear or blue glass inserts, while ruby examples are considerably rarer and far more visually dramatic.

Originally intended as a butter dish, it also works beautifully for serving caviar, seafood condiments, pâté, tapenade or small aperitif accompaniments. The shell form, combined with the rich red glass, creates an elegant table accent strongly associated with glamorous mid-century entertaining.

The set includes the original spreader knife.

Period:

1980s–1990s

Type:

Shell-shaped butter dish / caviar serving dish

Materials:

Silver-tone metal, ruby red glass

Style:

luxury entertaining aesthetic

Condition:

Good vintage condition with minor traces of age and use. Light surface wear and small signs of oxidation/patina in places consistent with age. The ruby glass insert remains in very good condition and displays beautifully.

Dimensions:

Diameter 13 cm (5.1 in) 

height 6 cm (2.4 in)

Use/Placement:

Butter dish, caviar server, seafood accompaniment dish, decorative entertaining piece, barware or dining display accent. Also suitable for glamorous storage of jewellery, rings or small decorative objects.

A highly decorative and increasingly uncommon entertaining piece, especially with its original ruby glass insert intact. The rich red glass gives the object a far more luxurious and eye-catching presence than the more commonly encountered clear or blue versions.