Large, clipped-corner square, pear-shaped caster engraved "T / B*E" in shaded roman letters above the astragal bead at midbody. Conforming, double-stepped pedestal base and high-domed, perforated, friction-fit cover. Cover is topped by a bell-and-compressed-ball finial and pierced with stylized fleur-de-lis and rosettes composed of French curves, arrow shapes and small circles. Side opposite engraved initials is struck with four effaced hallmarks, "LAC" in raised serif letters in a rectangle, a lion passant facing left in a scalloped-top and-bottom shield, a crowned leopard's head in scalloped-top, rounded shield, and the raised roman date letter "u" in clipped-corner pointed shield. Underside of rounded bottom is overstruck "CRICHTON BROS / LONDON NEW YORK / & CHICAGO / R\D 631976" and lightly incised "164 (154) MT/w / A23".
Maker is Crichton Bros., dealers in antique silver and retail silversmiths. The firm was established in London by Lionel Alfred Crichton (1866-1938) and Philip Alexander Solomon Phillips (1867-1934) in 1889, opened branches in New York in 1909 and Chicago in 1913, and closed circa 1940s or 1950s.
Two-handled, oblong, boat-shaped sugar bowl with repoussé chased bands of roses, C scrolls, thistles and clover or shamrocks on an oval foot ring with four cast shell feet; no cover. Two, anthemion-decorated, tapered S-scroll handles at opposite ends. Underside of bowl struck incuse "DIXON & SON" in serif letters; underside of one foot stamped "76". From a four-piece coffee and tea service, DL*393313A-D.
Maker is James Dixon & Son of Sheffield, England, circa 1823-1835. Started as Dixon & Smith (James Dixon and Thomas Smith) in 1806, succeeded by James Dixon & Son in circa 1823 when James's eldest son, William Frederick Dixon, became his partner; renamed James Dixon & Sons when another son, James Willis Dixon, joined business around 1835 (a third son and son-in-law entered partnership around time when James Dixon, Sr. retired in 1842). Became James Dixon & Sons Ltd. in 1920 and has undergone several additional changes in owner and name since 1930. Company was a major manufacturer of Britannia and, later, silver and plated wares.
Oblong, boat-shaped creamer with repoussé chased bands of roses, C scrolls, thistles and clover or shamrocks on an oval foot ring with four cast shell feet. Wide pouring lip and tapered S scroll handle with anthemion decoration. Underside of bowl struck incuse "DIXON & SON" in serif letters; underside of one foot stamped "76". From a four-piece coffee and tea service, DL*393313A-D.
Maker is James Dixon & Son of Sheffield, England, circa 1823-1835. Started as Dixon & Smith (James Dixon and Thomas Smith) in 1806, succeeded by James Dixon & Son in circa 1823 when James's eldest son, William Frederick Dixon, became his partner; renamed James Dixon & Sons when another son, James Willis Dixon, joined business around 1835 (a third son and son-in-law entered partnership around time when James Dixon, Sr. retired in 1842). Became James Dixon & Sons Ltd. in 1920 and has undergone several additional changes in owner and name since 1930. Company was a major manufacturer of Britannia and, later, silver and plated wares.
Clockwork roasting jack or spit engine consisting of a tall, slender cylindrical shaft with astragal-arched hanging loop mounted on top of a larger cylinder containing a spring-powered mechanism that winds up with the attached key; turning tip with small suspension hook extends through opening in the flat hexagonal base plate and rotates both clockwise and counterclockwise for even roasting. Open circular keyhole on front above an oval embossed nameplate for "W. S. BURTON (arched) / GENERAL / FURNISHING / IRONMONGER / 39 OXFORD S\T". Missing cast iron spit wheel that hangs from suspension hook.
William S. Burton was both a manufacturer and retailer of iron and brass bedsteads, lamps, baths, etc.; he operated his showrooms at 39 (then 88) Oxford Street from c. 1847 until the 1880s. Not known if he made this particular jack or was just the seller (see 1982.0090.02 for a nearly identical model patented by John Linwood of Sheffield, England).
“One-armed man’s” knife, with matching fork (1986.531.225B), in original box (1986.531.225C). Three upturned steel blades with rounded tips. Blades and tangs are one piece of metal riveted together at handle. Ivory scales are riveted to tangs with brass pins to form a block handle with rounded sides and butt. A wide, thin metal ring is placed around the handle. Scratched overall. Ivory is discolored. Residue in crevices. Minor rust. Pins are corroded.
Blades are stamped: “W[crown]R/RODGERS CUTLERS/TO THEIR MAACJESTIES”; partially worn away.
Metal ring is stamped: "3"
Maker is Rodgers Cutlers, Sheffield, England, founded circa 1724. From 1971-1977 the firm operated under the name Rodgers-Wostenholm, and in 1977 Imperial of Providence, Rhode Island purchased the company.
Small, three-tined fork with slender baluster stem fitted into a slightly flared, rectangular ivory handle chamfered at edges and rounded-over at end that is engraved lengthwise on front “GOOD GIRLS REWARD” in a scrolled banner, colored black; no bolster. No marks. From a two-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife and fork), 1986.0531.084-.085.
Urn-shaped caster on flared circular pedestal base with banded foot topped by a plain, domed screw cap having one pierced hole at center. Body notched around shoulder at juncture of its short, flared neck with deep, rounded lower body. No marks.
Casters with covers lacking multiple holes are thought to have been used as a spice pots.
Old English serving spoon with pointed oval bowl and rounded downturned handle with midrib on back and foliate script "C" engraved on front; no shoulders. Swage-formed drop on back of bowl. Struck on back of handle with maker's mark "C•D" in raised serif letters in rectangle to left of five hallmarks, Newcastle city mark of three towers in round-bottom shield, lion passant facing left in clipped-corner surround, sovereign's head facing right in profile in oval, crowned leopard's head in round-bottom shield, and Newcastle raised roman date letter "L" in a square.
Maker is Christopher Dinsdale I of Newcastle, England; active circa 1800. Dinsdale's sons, Christopher Dinsdale II and Cuthbert Dinsdale, both used an identical mark.
Circular disc with a temperature scale marked "PASTORELLI / LONDON". Temperatures read clockwise high to low, from 120 degrees to -20 degrees, with ranges labeled Fever Heat, Blood Heat, Summer Heat, Temperate, and Freezing. Pierced with eight holes, two at top threaded with green string tied in a loop and six at bottom arranged into two sets of two small and one large. Plain back. Hinged, red, circular pressed paper case has padded front interior lined with white silk satin; inside back is lined with red velvet. Two small hook-and-eye clasps at side. Rectangular green printed label on back "SOLD BY / COOK & LEADBEATER / Chemists & Druggists, / King Street, / ALEXANDRIA."
Instrument maker is Anthony Pastorelli of London, England; active, 1829-1846/8. Retailed by Cook & Leadbeater in Alexandria, VA.
Handleless, rectangular, rounded-bottom bowl on a rectangular, stepped pedestal base with applied reeded molding for foot. A wide, die-rolled band of grapevine and oak branch decoration is at rim above a raised lower body with bulbous upper half and two overlapping rows of chased points around bottom. Underside of body is struck with four hallmarks, but no maker's mark; centerpunch visible. One end of base underside is struck with seller's mark and incised with weight. From a four-piece service, DL*383361-DL*383363A-B.
Hallmarks appear to be those for Chester, England, in 1814, although there is no town mark. Sellers are Liberty Browne (1776-1831) and William Seal (active, circa 1810-circa 1822) of Philadelphia, PA; in partnership, circa 1810-1811.
Rectangular, rounded-bottom creamer with a high, right-angled, reeded strap handle on a rectangular, stepped pedestal base with applied reeded molding for foot. Body consists of a wide die-rolled band of grapevine and oak branch decoration between a raised, flared neck with deeply curved rim and wide pouring lip and a raised lower section with bulbous upper half and two overlapping rows of chased points around bottom; a narrow, die-rolled band of laurel leaves is applied at rim. No marks; centerpunch visible. From a four-piece service, DL*383361-DL*383363A-B.
Hallmarks appear to be those for Chester, England, in 1814, although there is no town mark. Sellers are Liberty Browne (1776-1831) and William Seal (active, circa 1810-circa 1822) of Philadelphia, PA; in partnership, circa 1810-1811.
Two-handled covered cup on a stepped circular foot; engraved on opposite sides with an armorial device of a baron (coronet of four pearls) featuring a tower crest and motto "AVANCEZ" and a lengthy inscription detailing its presentation by the Corporation of the City of London to Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill for "the Skill, Bravery, and Exertions so eminently displayed" in the Battle of Vitoria on June 21, 1813. Applied decoration on raised body includes a reeded midband and alternating castings of female busts and anthemions on pedestals around its rounded bottom. Stepped bell-shaped cover has similar applied ornament and an urn finial soldered in place. Hollow, double C-scroll handles have a scrolled acanthus leaf on top and a split scroll lower terminal with incurved oval strut. Cover is stamped on collar exterior with "F•W" in a curvilinear surround. Underside of rounded bottom struck with four marks around centerpoint, the same "F•W" mark along with a lion passant, crowned leopard's head, and raised serif "u", all in curvilinear surrounds.
Maker is Fuller White of London, England; active 1734-1773. White is perhaps best known as the silversmith who made the Norfolk Mace, presented by Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie to the City of Norfolk on April 1, 1754; it remains in Norfolk's possession to this day.