AboutMartin Roberts Expertise Antique base metalware, principally BRITISH PEWTER. Expertise is in pre-1900 functional wares, NOT the decorative arts, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco or Art Nouveau - none of these are of interest to me, and questions related to such items will receive curt responses.
Before asking a question, try exploring some of the information on my website: www.antique-metalware.co.uk. The `Useful Links` page contains all sorts of pertinent information.
Experience A collector for 10 years, and a dealer for 4 years. Proprietor of the AntiqueMetalware website: www.antique-metalware.co.uk
Organizations The Pewter Society (UK); The Pewter Collectors' Club of America.
Expert: Martin Roberts Date: 7/31/2007 Subject: antique pot
Question I would like to find info re this objet. it is a tea pot i bought in devon england
the marking are 5
charsowen
sheffifld
151 8
Answer -
Charles Owen made Britannia metal wares (BM is a pewter alloy formulated for fabrication - rolling, spinning, etc - rather than casting) in Sheffield 1854-91.
151 is the pattern number, 8 or 5 may be the capacity in Imperial half-pints. 8 or 5, whichever is not the capacity, will be a workbench identifier.
His products are uncommon, but BM is not greatly admired by collectors, so scarcity does not equate to value in this case.
The Pewter Society's reference database of pewterers and their marks does not have a mark of Charles Owen. If you are able to take a good digital image of the mark, and of the object itself, and would be willing to have those included in the database, please send them to stynt@btopenworld.com - the images would assist collectors in the future.
