Oversized, elaborately decorated, partial-gilt tankard on four flattened-ball feet featuring a low-relief, repousse chased scene of the goddess Diana leading a boar and stag hunt that moves clockwise around the body. The cast figures of Diana and her hunting dog, supported by six leafy scrolls topped by doves, surmount the cover, while a lion rampant holding an empty cartouche is the thumbpiece; the lower terminal consists of scrolled acanthus leaves from which spring two coiled wires terminating in banded balls. Gold washed interior. Underside of flat bottom is struck with nine marks, four maker's pseudo hallmarks for Neresheimer and five import marks for Berthold Müller, Chester, 1901.
Mechanical triple folding biscuit box consisting of three, repousse chased, shell-shape, hinged sides that open from the top to reveal a gilded interior fitted with three, fanlike, piercework, hinged covers that fold down and secure closed using the spring retainers mounted on their fronts. Frame is formed from three, fasces-pattern arches on triple-pad feet to which the hinge mechanisms, each topped by a fleur-de-lis finial, are attached. Cast, three-scroll top handle and smaller, triangular, broken-scroll side handles. Top of one foot struck incuse "13". No other marks. One of two biscuit boxes, DL*304621.0001-.0002.
Flat circular tray on three cast pointed feet with a raised and shaped edge of six bracketlike segments separated by six scallops, and a conforming, applied cast beaded rim punctuated by six scroll-sided shield shapes. Obverse has a flat-chased band of scroll-filled ovals and serpentine-sided segments encircling the engraved gothic or Old English letters "MRC" at center, and is struck at upper right of monogram with a combined mark of a raised gothic or Old English "I" in curved shield, "D" in clipped-corner incurved rectangle, "&" in round-bottom shield and "S" in a X'ed diamond or lozenge, next to a curved shield containing "P N / S". Rim underside with incuse stamps "667", "N" and an imperial crown. Pentagonal tag applied to tray underside is embossed with the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom above "JAMES DIXON & SONS / SHEFFIELD."
Dinner fork, one of a set of six (1986.0531.028-.33) that match a set of seven dinner knives (1986.0531.021-.27).
Two-tined fork with baluster stem. Tines, stem, and tang are one piece. Bone scales are riveted to the top and bottom of the tang with brass pins to form a tapered block handle with chamfered edges and blunt butt. Tines are discolored, scratched, and have small rust spots, bone is cracked and chipped around edges and pulling away from the tang. No mark.
Blades of accompanying knives are stamped: “S. ROWLAND”; with a heart, diamond, and circle above.
Maker is possibly Sleigh Rowland, active ca 1830-1850 in Sheffield, England.
Dinner knife with a matching dinner fork (see 1986.0531.016). Overall S-shape, upturned steel blade with rounded tip. Blade and bolster are one piece. Back of knife shows a "puddled" weld between the iron bolster and steel blade. Bone scales are riveted to the top and bottom of the tang with steel pins to form a rounded handle with a blunt butt. A faint inscribed pattern is visible on the scales, and two steel pins at butt likely held a rounded iron pommel cap, both would match those on the accompanying fork. Overall scratches and discoloration, metal has rust spots, nicks. Bone is pulling away from tang. Missing pommel cap.
Blade is stamped: “SANDERSON”
Maker is possibly the Sanderson Brothers (formerly Naylor & Sanderson), active in Sheffield, England ca 1829-present.
Mallet-shaped caster with projecting, rounded bottom edge and screwed-on, tall, cylindrical, perforated cover having an acorn finial, six columns of five pierced holes, and creased, faceted band at rim. Conforming, glazed white earthenware cup inserted in tapered conical lower half; underside is covered by a slightly convex metal disk and bottom edges of body folded under to hold in place. No marks.
Mallet-shaped caster with projecting, tapered band at bottom and screwed-on, tall, cylindrical, perforated cover having an ovoid finial, seven columns of five pierced holes, and rounded rim. Conforming, glazed white earthenware cup inserted in tapered conical lower half; underside is covered by a slightly raised metal disk and bottom edges of body folded under to hold in place. No marks.
Single-reeded circular plate with flat well; no foot ring. Underside of well struck with three partial touchmarks for Richard Yates, arranged two above one; shaded serif letters "JDB" engraved at upper right.
Single-reeded circular dish scored twice on rim face and once inside perimeter of slightly raised well. Struck four times at top of rim face with touch of Christopher Baldwin. No other marks.