Featured Sterling Tankard? Mug Cup London Help

Hi All,
my friend just stopped with this sweet piece he picked up at VV Stands just under 4"H, weighs 214g.
I'm stumped with the marks on the base - Initials KL MC, then looks like a date letter 'a' under the 'm', crowned leopard head and another date letter 'I'.
I can't find a maker mark for KL MC, so maybe the owners initials, a gift to a couple? Although I would think they would be marked on the front, but ...
No duty mark, could this be from the 1700s?
Would the design be original or added at a later time and that is why there would be 2 date letters?
Is this considered a tankard?
any information appreciated
thanks for looking

 

It could be that the decoration was added much later. Tulipmania was the first half 17thC. Too bad they didn't use a tulip motif.

 

@Bakersgma
@silvermakersmarks

 

More commonly called a cann, not sure those are makers marks, being engraved not struck. I think the “I” is a partial makers mark and the other letter a date latter. Jmo.

 

thanks MOS

thanks komokwa

'Cann' - thanks anund, I've never heard that before Great idea on the letter 'I', will see if I can find anything searching names

 

Maybe @MrNate will make a guest appearance ?

 

Crowned leopard's head of this design and date letter "a" are for London 1736/37. The "I" is a partial maker's mark - could for either first name or surname. A possible candidate is John Fossey, a holloware maker and known maker of mugs.

The engraved initials are, as suggested, owner's initials, possibly a marriage dedication and here on the bottom is exactly where they should be.

The mug would originally have been plain but the Victorian fad for decoration has resulted in this "prettification" or, in some people's eyes, ruination.

Phil

 

That is a beauty cxgirl

 

The age of bad taste, although they made some beautiful jewellery.

 

Mr Nate loves silver, but our silvermarks experts are different people, who were already tagged by komo.
Another excellent silvermarks expert is our beloved Cheryl (dragonflywink), but she only makes cameo appearances.

Some other members, mostly among the joolies, also know a fair bit about silver and gold marks.

 

The I could also be considered a J, might help when looking for the maker.

 

CX Girl-May I ask where the VV Stands are ?

 

Those elaborate Victorians were pesky-but you can't always fault their craftsmanship.

 

thanks for all the replies folks

wonderful information, thank-you Phil Searching the name I found another one in the same shape but without the floral decoration. Must be a bit bigger as it weighs more than this one. I don't see many items this old, it is a thrill to hold and wonder where it has been over the years


https://scottishantiques.com/John-Fossey-silversmith

thanks anund I noticed that last night while searching around, another 'something new' I learned last night.

thanks AJ I agree, I love the Victorian Mourning jewelry pieces

he does indeed and has the eyes/nose to find fabulous pieces

thanks bosko69 Sorry, I was being lazy, VV stands for Value Village

I agree, I like the decoration on this piece

 

Value Village !?...you know what my next question would be...nah,don't tell,it's yr pals.

 

Wouldn't matter; they're called Savers in my neck of the woods. I think Value Village is the name in Canada and????

 

We used to have Value Village thrift stores here in Michigan but they changed the name several years ago to Value World.
I live close to the Canadian border and sometimes go across to thrift shop. Their VV's (which look exactly like ours) retained the "Village" name, for some reason.

Love the cann!

 

Value Village is here in Washington too.

 

I agree
As much as I LOVE to try to solve the puzzle, I do not consider myself an expert on marks. I am good at googling

 

Still called VV in Oregon too.