Expert: Martin G Roberts - 1/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a very old 1/2 pint glass & pewter flask made by James Dixon & Sons. The top is pewter with a screw cap stamped James Dixon & Sons. From the bottle neck down to the middle of the flask is glass covered with a straw basket weave. The lower half down to the bottom of the flask is covered with pewter and the bottom stamped James Dixon & Sons.
I understand that between the years of 1835 until 1879 the stamp James Dixon & Sons was used.
What can you confirm for me?
Thank you,
R. Boyette

ANSWER: -

Hello Rodney,

You are right that the wording James Dixon & Sons was introduced in 1835, but it was used beyond 1879, right up to the 1970s. There are many variations of the mark - the Pewter Society has so far recorded eleven variants using that exact wording.

Flasks like this were manufactured in the 19th Century, but continued in production through most of the 20th Century. So I cannot confirm the date with any precision, and simple chance dictates that there are more 20th Century examples around than 19th Century.

The pewter section on the lower half of the body should be removeable - it forms a cup from which to drink - but often they get stuck.

Hope that helps, albeit a little disappointing perhaps.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Would there be a date or a marking that would indicate date or year or place of manufacture? If so where should I look? The straw basket weave is coming loose and I am not sure what condition it is in under the pewter bottom covering.
Thank you so much for your help with all of this.
R Boyette

Answer
-

Hello Rodney,

Dixons were a Sheffield, England, manufacturer.

No, there are no marks used by pewterers that give dates directly, nothing like silver hallmark date letters. Usually, dating of pewter objects is either based on the style of the object or on the working dates of the maker, if the maker is known. In this case the maker has a working date bracket of about 140 years, and the object is of a style that might have been made at any time within that bracket. I mentioned that there are many variants of the mark reading "James Dixon & Sons", and some of those variants seem to have been used for only part of that 150 year window, but I would need to see the mark on your flask to compare it with the recorded examples, and then it might not be a variant that is helpful as to date.

Hope that helps.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk