The present salver is a significant testimony of the collecting pursuits of King Fernando II of Portugal, who amassed an important collection of Portuguese silver that rivalled that belonging to the Crown.

With a well-documented provenance, this dish is made from various cast sections soldered together and set on a similarly made openwork ring foot. The style of the casting panels resembles similar elements also produced in this way, mainly wings of chimerical form that we see in objects with 17th century mounts, these are invariably cast en ronde bosse.