Expert: Martin G Roberts - 1/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, Please could you tell me anything about this item. It says on the bottom roundhead leadless pewter and made in England. It also has a tiny etch of a roundhead. I thought it might be a tea caddy or possibly a biscuit barrel.It has sat on a shelf at my Dads and I am interested in what it is and if it has any value as well as my own sentimental value. Thank you in anticipation for your reply.
Take care. Ruth

ANSWER: -

Hello Ruth,

Your piece looks to me like a tobacco box, though I cannot judge scale from the photo, so it might be too big or too small for that.

Roundhead was a trademark used by the firm of Samuel Groves & Co. of Birmingham, England, in the 1920s and 1930s, which is consistent with the style of the piece.

Pieces like this are not uncommon, and pewter from this period is not collected avidly, so monetary value is really very small. If it has any sentimental value to you, that will certainly exceed the monetary value.

Hope that helps.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk

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

QUESTION: Hi Martin, Thank you for your quick response. I didn't think to put the size. The body of the item is almost 6 inches. Is this fitting with the tobacco box? Thank you, Your knowledge is amazing. Regards Ruth

Answer
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Thanks for the kind words, though some of the information I give comes from the Pewter Society database and other reference works.

Immediately after sending my original reply, I looked again at your photo and thought it could as easily be a tea caddy. The size is more appropriate for a caddy, so I shall have to withdraw my first view and agree with you - now you're the expert!

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk