Help with makers mark please

kingpin · Post by **kingpin** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:16 pm

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Hi can any body help with the maker it looks like either T L or T J. the next mark is the queens head then the lion then H then the panthers face.I had problems taking pictures of these hallmarks as they were so tiny .
Has any body any idea what it was used for . It is about three inches long modelled in the shape of a baby in christening robes. Was it used in the christening ceremony to sprinkle holy water? I have an identical piece hallmarked with a star and a crescent moon - obviously not English . Did this maker export these ? I love a mystery but help is required.
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nigel le sueur · Post by **nigel le sueur** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:34 am

If it is a "H" then with the duty mark would make it assayed in London 1883, as for the maker it would be the right date for Thomas Johnson, but that is the easy bit, there appears to be two Thomas Johnsons with very similar marks, my favorite is Thomas Johnson l, the reasons are as follows, the mark entered is very similar to yours, in 1883 TJ ll entered a mark with a pellet in Jan 1883, whilst TJ l marks for that period had no pellets, also TJ l was a maker of Dressing case and travel bags fittings, silver flasks, card cases, snuff boxes, vinaigrettes and smelling bottles, is this object some kind of vinaigrette ?
TJ ll specialised in walking stick mountings
Regards
Nigel
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kingpin · Post by **kingpin** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:23 pm

Hi Nigel , Thank you for your interesting reply. It could be a vinaigrette, but there is no cover for the holes and the substance may quickly evaporate. It is not able to hang from a chain as there is no loop anywhere. As it is a baby in robes I think it may be something to do with a christening ceremony. I take on board your thoughts on the maker and hopefully that solves the makers problem.
Thanks for your time and trouble . I have found this a very useful website with people as interested as I am in silver. Dave alias kingpin.
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