Silver, 21.68 grams, 115.61 mm. 1st-4th century AD. A fine piece of Roman silver tableware in the form of two parallel tapering prongs developing from a discoid panel. Above this, the square-section shaft features a panel of with rectangular voids with impressed roundels above and below on each face, within incised bands. The uppermost feature is a square-section bar on which perches a pair of eagles, their hooked beaks touching and their square tails extending below the perch. The object appears to have been designed to extract the meat from crab and lobster shells as well as for tackling other forms of seafood such as oysters, etc. The use of imperial Roman insignia - the vigilant eagles - on this item may imply an association with either a military or gubernatorial establishment. Seafood of all kinds was much prized in the Roman period. Extremely fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.