Expert: Martin G Roberts - 6/15/2008

Question
Dear Mark,

I received an antique pewter candle holder. The stamp on the bottom says
L & J
Sheffield
2011

I figured out the it was made in Sheffield. Could you tell me anything about the company that made it? It is a beautiful piece and quite old. Thank you.Amy

Answer
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Hmmm, interesting one that. It will be a Britannia metal piece, BM being a pewter alloy used for fabricating pieces from sheet metal rather than casting. 2011 is just a pattern number.

However, I have not seen or heard of this mark before, and it is not recorded in the database of the Pewter Society. Searching on the initials, there was an obscure Britannia metal making firm of Lucas & Johnson, who are noted as active only in 1871-2, so for no more than 2 years. I think this must be the firm who made your candle holder. With such a short life, there will be few products of theirs surviving, so it is not surprising the mark has not been recorded before. They had a workshop on Shoreham Street in Sheffield.

Hope that helps. If you are able to send a digital image of the mark, and of the object, I could add it to the Pewter Soc. database to assist collectors in the future. If so, please send photos to stynt@btopenworld.com

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk