www.925-1000.com

I have used your website and I am pretty certain that this egg cup was made around 1855. It has a full lion walking to the left; a left profile monarch; a gothic letter D; and a leopard w/out a crown. The only mark I can't find is the maker's mark. The initials are J I. They are arranged vertically, with the J directly above the I. Also there is a vertical arrangement of symbols directly to the right, alongside of the initials. The symbols are a dot, a star, and another dot. The star is positioned between the J and the I and the dots are postioned midway alongside of each initial. I'm sorry there is no photo. I tried, but the marks are just too small and I can't get the lighting right. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
CJ

I think part of the maker's mark may be missing, more likely its JA over IA for Joseph and John Angell. The date should be 1839.

See here:
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-J.html

Miles

Ahhhh. Now I see. I should have thought of that. Too long a day I guess. Thank you so much.

There is one other aspect of this cup that is a puzzle as well. Not sure if I should do a separate posting . . . The bowl of the cup is unembellished except for a finely detailed engraving of a hovering bee (about 1.5 sq. cm.) It looks like a yellow jacket. My research has led to nothing. If you can shed any light or send me in a direction, I would be most grateful.

Thank you again for the help with the maker's mark.

CJ

Is the bee perhaps a crest?

That's the only thing I can figure. I wish I could pinpoint a family, but my research has come up empty. Again, thanks so much for you time and the information.
CJ