Flatware in the “King’s” pattern has remained popular in England from the first decades of the 19th century to the present day. Derived from French designs of the late 18th century, the pattern is characterized by shaped handles ornamented with a shell at the top and a honeysuckle at the midpoint. Several variations of the pattern exist, in which additional elements have been added to the handle decoration, or modifications have been made to the designs stamped into the heels of spoons and forks.

This set, a service for twelve plus specialized serving pieces, has been assembled over time. The pieces bear the marks of makers working in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and other parts of Britain over the span of a century. Four different family crests are also present in the service. Some pieces are marked with griffins’ heads, some with suns and crossed swords, some have rampant stags, and one has what appears to be an arm holding a whip aloft. The flatware also exhibits some pattern variation. Some of the service is in the “King’s Honeysuckle” pattern, a modification of the standard “King’s” pattern, in which a bell flower drop is added below the shell at the handle’s terminus. The heels of the spoons and forks also show variation. Some have diamond heels, in which there is a pointed motif at the base of the shell, others have union heels, in which the shell terminates at a simple scroll.