Topic: Silver plated art nouveau salt or pepper pot

[Tigerchips]

Mum bought this for £2, no idea how old it is. It seems quite nicely done, even though it's plated. It has the initial 'WT' or W.T'. I've been through various sites and found nothing about this mark. Parts of the rim has copper showing through, must be old. It has two join marks running from top to bottom on the inside.

[Anne]

What size is it TC? I was idly wondering if it was an incense holder rather than a salt/pepper shaker?

[Anne]

TC have you downloaded a copy of the PDF booklet here?  "TRADEMARKS
ON BASE-METAL TABLEWARE" Late 18th century to circa 1900 (including marks on Britannia
metal, iron, steel, copper alloys and silver-plated goods) - it doesn't have your WT mark in but it's handy to have a copy to refer to.

http://www.sha.org/assets/documents/Trademarks%20on%20Base-Metal%20Tableware.pdf

[Tigerchips]

What size is it TC? I was idly wondering if it was an incense holder rather than a salt/pepper shaker?

The holes are very small, it's about 11cm high. A sand shaker has been suggested as well.

[Tigerchips]

TC have you downloaded a copy of the PDF booklet here?  "TRADEMARKS
ON BASE-METAL TABLEWARE" Late 18th century to circa 1900 (including marks on Britannia
metal, iron, steel, copper alloys and silver-plated goods) - it doesn't have your WT mark in but it's handy to have a copy to refer to.

http://www.sha.org/assets/documents/Trademarks%20on%20Base-Metal%20Tableware.pdf

That'll be handy for the future, thanks.

[Anne]

The holes are very small, it's about 11cm high. A sand shaker has been suggested as well.

Ahhhh for use on a desk to dry ink... that's a good thought!

[user9318]

Ahhhh for use on a desk to dry ink... that's a good thought!

Generally known as a pounce pot.

[user9318]

W.T could be a monogram / owners initials, rather than a makers mark.

[Tigerchips]

W.T could be a monogram / owners initials, rather than a makers mark.

I never thought of that, it's also on the rim of the lid, although it's wearing away. It's rather odd that the mark is on the inside at the bottom.
The only mark underneath are scratch marks, either made by the owner, repairer or silversmith, etc. You find those all the time on silver and silver plate. http://www.ascasonline.org/articoloallnumber.html

Actually it looks like it says...
WT
LN
av/-

It's not very clear though, LN might be the LN postcode area, around Lincoln.

Found this... http://www.silvercollection.it/dictionarycaster.html

They were used for different things....
CASTER (CASTOR)
PEPPER CASTER
PEPPERETTE
MUFFINEER
TALC BOTTLE

[user9318]

I have seen it before on silver items, that the initials are on the interior base, its the part that doesn't get worn too much, compared to the outside.

The scratch marks could be where someone else has tried testing it for silver.