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Roberts & Belk Ltd silver plated ice bucket

This lovely silver plated ice bucket is in the shape of a pail/ bucket. It has a non-fixed handle that hooks into the pail on both sides and there are four "bands running around the pay. one round the top , one round the bottom, one just below the top band and one just above the bottom band that mimic the metal bands that used to run around wooden pails to hold them together. Probably made in the 1930s it is stamped "Roberts & Belk Ltd Sheffield" on the base together with an Aladdin's lamp trademark. It is also stamped "This is the property of 20 Hallam Street".

Dimensions:
Weight: 1lb 4ozs - 565gms
Height (handle down): 5.5ins - 14.2cms
Diameter: 5 3/8ins - 13.9cms

Roberts & Belk
The firm was established as Furniss, Poles & Turner and its first hallmark was entered in Sheffield Assay Office as "plate worker, Furnival Street, Sheffield" on 20 December 1810.
From c.1822 to 1945 the firm traded as William Briggs (hallmark entered as Plate Worker, Button Lane on 14 August 1822).
Later William Briggs entered into partnership with Samuel Roberts & Joseph Slater. On 01 September 1845 the firm, trading as Roberts & Slater, silver and electroplate manufacturers, entered its hallmark in Sheffield Assay Office with an address at Furnival Street.
After Joseph Slater retired in 1858 the firm continued until 1863 under the style Roberts & Briggs and entered an hallmark entered on 01 September 1859).
In 1863, after the retirement of William Briggs, the firm became Roberts & Belk - Charles Belk becoming he new partner. Its first hallmarks were entered in Sheffield Assay Office on 01 February 1864.
In 1879, after Samuel Roberts retired Charles Belk continued alone under the Roberts & Belk.
Besides the Sheffield factory, the firms were active also in London, with showrooms at 28 Ely Place, Holborn (1858) and later at Gresham House, 24 Holborn Viaduct (1883).
In 1901 the firm was incorporated and became Roberts & Belk Ltd and in 1961 was bought by C.J. Vander Ltd.

20 Hallam Street
20 Hallam Street London is the home of the Astor Court Hotel. The Hotel is housed in a Grade II listed building that was formerly an historic Gentlemen's Club that was converted in the early 1900s.
We have never stayed at the Astor Court Hotel and bought this legitimately but how it left the hotel we cannot say!