Dutch salt

[silverfan]

This little salt is marked with lion 2, Minerva in a corner of the bottom (I could not recognize the letter on the head) and a maker's mark which I could not identify. Who is the maker?
Regards silverfan

[oel]

Maker's mark T. above O in a lozenge for: Johannes Adrianus van der Toorn, registered in The Hague, 1795/1838. Johannes van der Toorn born 1775 in The Hague, died somewere between 1845/1849.

https://www.gemeentemuseum.nl/nl/collec ... ktrommel-1
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29175&p=71769#p71769
During the period of the silver guild in The Hague Johannes Adrianus van der Toorn maker's mark IAT conjoined, used 1795-1811.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26049&p=83480#p83480
Minerva head or assay office mark regional assay office letter C in its helmet for The Hague. No year letter?


Peter.

[silverfan]

Hi Peter,
Thank you very much. The salt is older than I thought. When using a magnifying glass I discovered on a normally impossible position and that is on the lower edge the very tiny year letter W for 1831 (see first photo).
Regards silverfan

[amena]

Hi Silverfan
Are you sure it's a salt cellar and not an eye bath? Usually a salt cellar has a glass liner..
Best
Amena

[silverfan]

Hi amena,
I am not sure, but I do not think it is a eye bath, because all eye baths I have seen have an oval or round shape. Here there is a rectanguler shape, perhaps the glass liner has been lost.
Regards siverfan

[amena]

Yes, obviously the eye baths have an oval shape.
I didn't understand it from the picture.
Regards
Amena