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It's a small-ish oval form with raised ends, footed, about 4" long, 2 1/4" wide, and 2 1/2" tall at the ends. Is it a salt cellar / master salt? Also, I'm trying to ID the mark -- are marks always oriented in the same direction? I'm assuming it is SM but but it would also be a fine WS if flipped. I'd guess Sampson Mordan based on the date but no dot and I can't find a similar form. W Spurrier & Co? As always, any help appreciated.

Hi

Date - I may be off the mark here (and if so, someone will correct me!), but you've got a Crowned Leopard Head - so we'd have to be looking pre 1822 - and specifically I think 1784 (29 May to 30 November, because there is no duty mark?). Think Sampson Mordan may be a bit too late in date?

Maker - It is always confusing when the maker's mark can be read when inverted! Generally, I tend to assume (if I have nothing else to go on) that the mark was stamped in the same manner as the date letter, Lion Passant etc. A possibility (no more) may be Samuel Meriton II, who was working in this period (although the mark I have seen for him isn't exactly the same, the S and M are closer together). Anyway, I don't have a copy of Grimwade, someone else may be able to provide further guidance.

Cheers

Waylander

Hello Waylander. I missed that crown on the leopard detail because I was reading the date as 1904. That's embarrassing. After looking at the correct date range I'm thinking maybe William Skeen?

William Skeen is another possibility, assuming the maker's mark was punched on an inverted basis from the assay office marks.

Cheers

Waylander