102 pc Canteen Set.

102 pc canteen set, Sheffield, England, silver plated flatware in the Old English pattern. The pieces are marked EPNS (electro plated nickel silver), A1 (a quality mark which in the maker's opinion indicated the highest quality his firm made). The knives are stainless steel with faux bone handles and are marked E. Herriott & Sons, Sheffield. The set is comprised of 12 each: table knives, table forks, dessert knives, dessert forks, dessert spoons, soup spoons, egg or coffee spoons, teas spoons; three table spoons; one each: carving knife, carving fork, and sharpening steel.

The set is known as a canteen, and it was the practice of English officers to travel with a canteen of silver to entertain in a proper fashion and style when posted to distant parts of the English Empire. This oak box would have made a good companion piece to the wooden campaign chests and desks with which they also traveled. Each layer within the chest retains the original felt lining and each tray has purpose built compartments to hold the utensils and the original labels naming each utensil beside each section to avoid improper positioning. The box measures 16.5"W x 13.75"D x 8.5"H with original brass pull and key hole (sorry, no key).

102 pc canteen set (No. C537). Shipping included.