Marks on a pewter mug

[Roger in Sussex]

Can any one please tell me anything about a pewter mug which I believe belonged to my great grandfather?

I think the Crown and W.R refer to King William IV, as it is inscribed on the front, neatly but not, I think professionally, C*H 1838, and this has been altered to read H C*H, which are great grandfather's initials, so was presumably secondhand. My Uncle told me that he remembered that it was used as a gluepot when he was a boy!!! (So much for family heirlooms )

What I would like to know is whether  RS was the maker, and if so can I find out about him, and also what significance do the other marks have. Is the last one Britannia to indicate the mug is made of Britannia metal?

I would appreciate any information or suggestions.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

A auctioneer or specialist antique dealer should be able to advise you.


Nanny Jan

[Roger in Sussex]

Thank you,  I hadn't thought of that, I was thinking more of possible collectors. I wouldn't want to sell it, of course

Roger

[Viktoria]

Hello Roger, Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 after William The Fourth died so 1838 is a little out. A Royal cipher would  be under a crown and there would be a Roman four -IV  ---      WIVR . Perhaps it is a maker`s name or if second hand it could have been made in the reign of William The fourth but the date is still wrong . Brittania metal is not pewter  .    Viktoria     

[behindthefrogs]

I suggest that you check whether your library has a copy of

Cotterell's Old Pewter: It's Makers and Marks

which is probably the best reference book,  or another book on identifying pewter marks.

David

[Roger in Sussex]

Hi Victoria and David,

I suspect the mug is earlier than the 1838 date, as the base has ES cut into it in a quite different style. My GGF was born about 1827 according to census, but I feel sure it was secondhand when he got it and ES and CH (whoever they were) had owned it before him, probably in that order. There is a crown over W.R, but not very clear in the image.

I will try to see Cotterell's book, probably some library will have it in stock.

Thank you both very much for your assistance.

Regards

Roger

[Viktoria]

Thanks Roger, Best of luck. How lovely to own such an object with family connections,let us know how you get on. Viktoria.

[Little Nell]

A crowned WR mark would appear to be a verification mark and was apparently used prior to 1827 as indication that the item was made to the William III ale standard.

(information gleaned from this site: http://www.pewtersociety.org/marks.html - quite interesting! )

Nell

[Little Nell]

They also offer an id service:

http://www.pewtersociety.org/id_service.html

Could be useful.

Nell