Expert: Martin G Roberts - 4/4/2008

Question
Thanks for your quick response about the pewter. The teapot has these marks: an 8, underneath the * it says Sturge and Son, under that it is marked 2002. It looks like an Aladdin's lamp with a wooden filial and handle. It is dark and cleaning does not lighten it in color.

Answer
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Thanks for the clarification - it is imperative to give full detail, as there are thousands of makers, including several called Sturg[e/i]s.

In fact, the mark reads STURGES & SON (you missed off the S). Made by Elizabeth Sturges, who was in partnership with her son Richard 1833 - 1841, at 26 Litchfield Street, Birmingham, England. You are correct that it is made of Britannia metal. Most BM was made in Sheffield, but there were a few makers elsewhere, Sturges being one of them. 8 may be the capacity in Imperials half-pints. 2002 is the pattern number. The patination is a hard and brittle oxide - removing this is a specialist task, and then the underlying surface is often unpleasing, so best to leave it as it is.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk