Magnificent Cape silver salver by Daniel Heinrich Schmidt, circa 1790.
This salver is one of a handful known by Schmidt who was commissioned to make the Van Reede Van Oudtshoorn salver, now in Museum Africa, which is very similar in style to this one.
The salver in the Lutheran Church made to match a German example also shares many similarities to this example.
Daniel Heinrich Schmidt produced some of the finest Cape silver when compared to his contemporaries and in “A History Of Cape Silver” the author David Heller states: “As a master-craftsman Daniel Heinrich Schmidt may be compared – and not to his disadvantage – with Paul Storr, the most celebrated silversmith of the late George III period with whom he was contemporary. Both were deservedly famous in their respective countries….”
See page 85 of “Cape Silver and Silversmiths” by Stephan Welz.
Dimensions: 22.8cm by 22.5cm by 2cm high.
Weight: 416 grams.