Featured Unmarked Kettle on a Stand

Any ideas of the maker of this kettle with a stand? We can not find any marks. Another complementary piece has a "T".

 

geeze...that's nice and complex for not being marked ????
Love the rams head !!

 

The rams head does push it over the top. We've looked in all usual and unusual spots and can't find anything.

 

Can we see that "complementary piece" and the mark you found on it?

 

Beautiful piece! Did you photograph that inside a photo tent?

 

My WAG would be Victorian Irish....maybe British....spirit kettle.

 

Not the same, but this one is also decorated with ram heads: http://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/S...-Barnard-Sons-Ltd-Antique-Victorian-p8659.htm

 

Found it sort of!
Large sterling silver tea kettle with floral patterns on sterling silver stand with ram head motifs.
https://www.betteridge.com/betteridge-collection-sterling-silver-kettle-on-stand/p/2777/

 

Is this the same piece?

https://www.betteridge.com/betteridge-collection-sterling-silver-kettle-on-stand/p/2777/

 

Sure looks the same, but they didn't show or even describe any marks, so color me skeptical. For the moment.

 

This is the complementary piece that has a "T".

 

Mine is the same but not polished. I'm part lazy and I knew everyone would like to see the polished one. This is mine.

 

That is beautiful!

 

For silver, I have to use a tent. I did not take the first photo, the other photos are mine. My pieces are not polished yet.

 

So we have 2 showing up in the UK and 1 in the US, right?

I'm sure you know that UK marks would be much more complex than this simple T - not to mention more stringently required. Appears to be no evidence of marks being rubbed off in cleaning either. So that goes out the window.

The only US possibility, IMHO, would be co-called "coin silver" made before the sterling standard became widespread. There are a few makers of that period with a capital T (with serifs) included in their marks, but none with a T alone. So that also becomes unlikely, given that complete lack of ghost impression evidence.

I just don't know what to make of this.

 

I'm thinking Betteridge did not find any marks either since their description doesn't mention any maker or origin.

 

I think it is likely early American before purity marks were required from a small maker who's name and identity have been lost over the years.

I have extensive history in researching and understanding early American silver pocket watch cases. There is often little or nothing known about the company who's marks they bear. The major watch company's records were saved but there were many small silversmiths making cases and a slew of other items and their records and names are long lost.

Many early silver cases were made by simply melting silver coins, thus the coin silver moniker, resulting in about 80% purity. There are a few makers who I know were using a higher grade although it is not marked. The difference is obvious when cleaning and polishing the cases. One in particular with the mark F&B is always a delight and is a very high quality of silver, I am sure of sterling purity.

Watch cases are a study in themselves BTW. Before the marks became regulated often they were marked to be somewhat deceptive to the common buyer, some more then others. Never assume you are buying an early gold cased pocket watch unless you are well versed in the marks. For example "Warranted 14k" means gold filled. That upsets a lot of people still...

If you have polished a lot of fine sterling silver pieces you will likely know when you polish this if it is coin grade or Sterling grade in my experience.

It is a lovely piece BTW!

 

Thank you! We'll test the silver content probably later today and start polishing. The kettle with the stand is the star of the set but it also has some other interesting pieces which I'll post later.

 

NEAT! I know nada about early american silver but it's very cool.

 

i don't understand.....why am i seeing two different kettles....
and why do i like the 1st one better...?