Can anyone ID hallmarks on this candle holder (or ashtray)?

[Charlie8484]

Hi All

I’m clearing out parents’ loft. Found 20+ silver items, all of which I’ve categorised except this - has me stumped.

Images here: https://imgur.com/a/1SZ1hjn

Can anyone tell me/steer me:

1. What it is?
My guess is ashtray or candle holder. Or it might be something entirely different.

2. What country is it from?
All other silver pieces I’ve found have been British. However this doesn’t seem to have the lion so not sure.

3. What are the other hallmarks?
Without knowing the country for sure it is difficult to narrow down maker/town/year...

Info
Weighs 26g (silver base), 79g (overall)

I’ve tried to capture hallmarks from different angles/lenses.

All help appreciated!

C

[silvermakersmarks]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

For the benefit of those who are wary of clicking on links please embed your images. When you have done that I am sure that we will be able to tell you a little more about your loft find.

Phil

[Charlie8484]

Apologies. Here are the images embedded:

[silvermakersmarks]

The manufacturer's mark, assuming it is "IW", is not known to me, but the other lettering reads NSEP. This shows that the material is not silver but rather a base metal, nickel silver (which contains no silver at all), which has been electroplated. It is almost certainly British and may have been a sugar bowl.

Phil

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

It's a badly struck mark of Norton & White of Birmingham.

Here's another example, also double struck, but a little clearer:



It's confirmed by their unusual marking 'NSEP', rather than the usual 'EPNS'

See: https://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_N2.html

and: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=14729&p=95100&hilit=norton#p95100

Trev.

[AG2012]

Hi,
The maker has been identified.
As for its use, I think it is jam / jelly / condiment/sugar dish/bowl (depending on its size).
Definitively not candle holder and ashtray.
Regards

[Charlie8484]

Outstanding. Exactly what I needed. Thank you for your time all.
C.

[Essexboy Fisher]

Hello, I was doing some research on a London retailer and came across some images of a most decadent electroplated item. The maker looks like "Norton & White" and has the "N&W" and the gothic style "NSE", that firms version of "Nickel Silver Electroplated" (EPNS).
Described as a "grape plate", it is obviously the place for us all to hang our own personal bunch of grapes.



This fairly non utilitarian decorative item is in consensus with hallmarked silver items N&W were said to have made in the late Victorian and Edwardian period.

"Bowl, claret jug, dish, epergne, ladle, salt, spoon, tazza, toast rack, vanity jar lid, vase"
This list is for items assayed by the Birmingham Assay Office, and there is a reference in another post indicating they registered a mark in the name of "Thomas Norton" (a son?) at the London Assay Office

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=14729&p=95100&hili ... n%20Street
(you may need to scroll down)

I can not help but think London would have been a good market for their luxury wares, similar to the grape plate. Now what I also turned up in my research on my retailer was a reference found in a Kelly's commercial directory for 1891 of a "Norton & White, electroplaters, Holborn Circus E.C.". Could this be a not well known London outlet for the Newhall Street, Birmingham firm? It is possibly not well known as the Google search calls the reference "Nortou & White electroplaters".



Speculation again, but do put me right.

Fishless

[dognose]

Hi Fishless,

The Holborn area, especially, Thavies Inn, Bartlett's Buildings, and Ely Place, were the London home of maybe hundreds of Birmingham, Sheffield and International businesses. Larger firms had showrooms, and smaller outfits may have been represented by individual agents who may have handled the business of several firms at a time. Hatton Garden is also very close, so the whole area was a hub for the trade.

Trev.