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: 5/12/2007 Subject: antique tea pot
Question I have received a large silver plated tea pot which I know very little about. It is by James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield. Underneath the following is marked:
5 64
James Dixon & Sons
Sheffield
E P B M
4650
Can you date it for me or give me any information about it at all. It's a rather attractive piece, mostly plain but with leaf patterns and lavish swirls around an arch on both sides of the pot, with a leafed mound on top of the lid. It had formerly been well used but has cleaned up beautifully.
Answer -
Late 19th or early 20th Century (late 19th more likely), made in Sheffield, England. JD&S were the largest manufacturers of this type of thing - their products are very, very common.
EPBM - electroplated Britannia Metal, a cheap silver substitute. BM is a pewter alloy formulated for fabrication (spinning, stamping, etc) rather than casting.
4650 - pattern number.
64 - probably the workbench identifier within the factory.
5 - probably the capacity in Imperial half-pints.
Not a collectible object, and EPBM is very unpopular in the market, so value is negligible. If you like it, enjoy it as a decorative object, but do not think of it as an investment piece.
