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I have recently bought a kind of a jar, might be a cigarette holder. It is made of porcelain and sterling silver. Does the letter F indicate of sth? Maybe date? Is it American silver? Photos below:

Sorry for the miniatures above.

You don't give a size, but it does look like it might be a cigarette box - or a tea caddy, or a tobacco jar, or even a biscuit jar if larger than it appears (I like the applied horseshoe and crop elements). If I recall correctly, Copeland Spode's 'The Hunt' pattern, with transfers of 19th century paintings by J.F. Herring, was first introduced around 1930. Don't believe that the mountings are American and am a bit bothered by the wear on the base - is that loss of plating on white metal, or was sterling lacquered and showing tarnish where the lacquer has worn away? Suppose that the 'F' would be a manufacturer's mark, and if solid silver would guess continental origin, since it doesn't bear proper British hallmarks.

~Cheryl

Hello, maker could be Johann Franz from Gmuend, Germany. Believe the traces show wear of the anti-tarnish layer, not loss of plating. Best wishes, Bahner

Thank you both for your replies. I think Bahner is right. I now confirmed from another source that the origin of this cigarette box is German, years 1959-1970.