Two-handled, ovoid spoon holder on four legs ending in lion's paw feet; flat-chased mimosa foliage on its body. Sharply-angled handles, square in section, have scroll-ended upper terminals and square-and-scroll lower terminals. Circular lion's masks are at top corners of handles and middle of leg mounts. Underside of flat bottom is struck incuse with a circular mark containing a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "MERIDEN / B. COMP[AN]Y" in sans serif letters; "PATENT APPLIED FOR" is stamped above and "1877" below. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1984.0424.13-.18.
Low-domed cover, chased around the cross-and-flared-square finial with a curvilinear cross design, belongs on sugar bowl 1984.0424.17.
Maker is Meriden Britannia Company of Meriden, CT. Meriden Britannia Co. was founded in 1852 and became a subsidiary of International Silver Co. in 1898; International continued to use the Meriden name and mark until at least the 1930s.
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