Victorian Silver Plated Cricket Bat Toast Rack

A charming and highly decorative Victorian silver-plated novelty toast rack, modelled around the game of cricket and dating to the late 19th century, circa 1870s. The toast rack is cleverly constructed with five pairs of crossed cricket bats forming six divisions, each bat finely detailed with a ribbed handle. It stands upon four spherical cricket-ball feet, complete with engraved seam decoration. The central carrying handle rises from a further cricket ball and terminates in a substantial circular ring, creating an exceptionally attractive piece of Victorian sporting tableware. Of particular interest is the British Registered Design lozenge impressed to two of the cricket bats. This type of registration mark was used during the Victorian period and supports the early dating of the design. Cricket-themed novelty silver plate was particularly fashionable during the Victorian period, reflecting the enormous growth in popularity of the sport during the 19th century. A wonderful display piece with considerable character, equally suitable for a cricket collection, sporting interior or traditional country-house setting.