Description

An excellent antique silver covered jug of plain form with a cast and applied foot and handle. Britannia standard silver*. Very heavy quality. This type of jug would have been used for serving wine, beer or other cold liquids. To the front is a contemporary hand engraved armorial within a decorative fish scale cartouche. The spout has a hinged cover with hand engraved initials “W over I*M”; these initials are repeated underneath the foot. The handle has the initial “A” over some indistinct initials, possibly “I*M”, which would indicate a marriage. Contains 1525 ml. Weight 1203 grams, 38.6 troy ounces. Height 29.5 cms. Diameter of foot 10.5 cms. London 1707. Maker Nathaniel Lock.

Literature: *Britannia Standard silver. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.