Expert: Martin G Roberts - 5/23/2007

Question
I am in possession of a tobacco tin purchased at auction , which bears the mark of James Yates.  The mark is on the underside of the tobacco tin, which appears to be a bit worn.  At the top of the marking area is a crown.  Under the crown is the roman numeral X.  Beneath that are the words 'Made in England' - this is surrounded by a scalloped border.  Beneath that is mark which under the magnifying glass appears to be a dragon (with detail) coming out of a different style crown than the one mentioned above.  Next is the name James Yates enclosed in a rectangular line/border.  Below that is the word London - concave curve.  Under that are four marks.  This first of the four is not identifiable.  Second is a coat of arms with three layered sections of characters - the second layer appearing to perhaps be stags.  The third mark could be a dragon or a griffin.  The fourth mark seems to be initials - JI.

Each of the four marks have what seems to be incredibly painstaking detail - some of it worn away, but enough remaining to make the view through the magnifying glass intriguing.  What might you tell me about this piece?

Answer
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The small shield shaped marks are pseudo-hallmarks once used by a pewtering firm in Bewdley, England in the late 18th Century. The trade name James Yates derives from a large pewtering outfit in Birmingham, England, in the late 19th Century. Both firms became part of Gaskell & Chambers of Birmingham, and your piece was probably made by them (James Smellie, who took over G&C in the 1970s) in the mid-late 20th Century (so not very old, I'm afraid).

Value very small.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk