Description

This charming little antique silver milk jug dates to the beginning of the 1700’s. With its simple plain design and carved wooden handle, it has a good weight and nice colour. Owner’s initials “GAM” to the base. This is one of the earliest forms of milk jug and the style is very much like a contemporary coffee pot.

Contains 310 ml.
Weight 448 grams, 14.4 troy oz.
Height 17.2cm. Spread 14cm.
London 1712.
Maker James Rood.
Britannia standard silver, high purity 95.8%.

Marks. The little hot milk jug is underneath with a full set of English silver hallmarks, the lid with lion and maker’s mark.

Literature: Milk wasn’t commonly taken in tea and coffee until the early eighteenth century and there are no milk jugs dating to before the Queen Anne period which makes this one of the first examples to be found. Cream jugs without lids date from the 1720s onwards.

*Britannia Standard. In 1696, silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. 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 and is always prized.