Expert: Martin G Roberts - 10/1/2006

Question
Could you tell me approximate date and country of origin for touchmarks of a rose w/crown (the crown does not have a raised peak as it goes across the top of what I believe is a rose and the other mark appears to be St. George standing on a slain dragon with the initials F. C. on other side of him? This is a pewter bulbous lidded container with spout and shell-like thumb piece. Thanks, Cindy Waechter

Answer
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A crowned rose is of no use at all in dating/origin - it was widely used in Europe (particularly England and the Low Countries) for 300 years. The FC mark is probably the maker's touchmark, which will be the key to date/origin. Sounds like a Dutch mark to me, but I can't be sure. Style of object could be 18th or 19th Century. But beware, there are many fake and reproduction versions of this type of thing around.