CHAPTER 18: PEWTER AND SOME OTHER METALS

Figure 18.1: Pewter canister, c. 1740. Cast metal; oval with moulding around base and cap lid with finial; bears mark ‘ID’ for the pewterer John Duncumb, initially of Birmingham and later, of Wribbenhall, Worcestershire (fl. 1702-45). Height 10.8 cm (4 ¼ in); width 11.6 cm (4 5/8 in); depth 6.7 cm (2 5/8 in). © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 

Figure 18.3: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1790-95. Bright-cut engraved decoration; green-stained ivory knop. Height 8.9 cm (3 ½ in); width 13.2 cm (5 ¼ in); depth 12.7 cm (5 in). Museums Sheffield 

Figure 18.4: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1795. Bright-cut engraved decoration; green-stained ivory pineapple knop; two interior compartments; bears mark of Richard Constantine of Sheffield, a competitor of James Vickers, the originator of Britannia metal. Height 13 cm (5 1/8 in); width 12.9 cm (5 in); depth 10.2 cm (4 in). Museums Sheffield 

Figure 18.5: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1785-1805. Bright-cut engraved decoration; acorn finial; made in Britain, probably in Sheffield, but bears mark of retailer ‘I*TRASK’ (Israel Trask), Beverly, Massachusetts, USA; Height 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in); width 14 cm (5 ½ in); depth 10 cm (3 15/16 in). Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Virginia, USA 

Figure 18.6: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1780-90, possibly by James Vickers. Bright-cut engraved decoration and punched roundels; reserve with initials ‘A G’; acorn finial; hinged on short side; two interior compartments. Much of the decoration, notably the drapery around the shield, is almost identical to that on pieces marked by Vickers. Height 15.9 cm (6 ¼ in); width 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in); depth 13 cm (5 3/8 in). (Richardson collection) Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro 

Figure 18.7: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1780-1800. Bright-cut engraving, together with painted and lacquered blue decoration; shield on front with initials ‘JJJ’; pseudo-hallmarks on base; bears mark of Richard Pitt(s) of London. Height 13.6 cm (5 3/8 in); width 12.7 cm (5 in); depth 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in). Private collection 

Figure 18.10: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1823-9. Cast shell feet; ebonised knop on hinged lid; impressed on base ‘DIXON & SON’, the mark employed by the company between 1823 and 1829. A matching lidded sugar bowl and cream jug are known. Height 12.5 cm (4 7/8 in); width 14.5 cm (5 5/8 in); depth 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in). Museums Sheffield 

Figure 18.12: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1840. Machine-stamped engraved decoration; hinged lid with cast pewter and bone knop; impressed on base ‘HARRISON/NORFOLK WORKS/SHEFFIELD/2849’. John Harrison’s firm was based at this address from 1833 to 1843. Height 13.5 cm (5 ¼ in); width 15.2 cm. Collection of Dr D. Lamb 

Figure 18.13: Electroplated Britannia metal caddy, c. 1850, by James Dixon & Sons. Embossed decoration of oriental flowers and foliage on all sides; egg-and-dart moulding at top; ornate foliate finial; pad feet; impressed on base ‘JAMES DIXON & SONS [patent no.] 494 EPBM’, the mark employed by the company between about 1842 and 1851. (After about 1851, the word ‘Sheffield’ was added to subsequent marks.) Height 17.8 cm (7 in); width 11.4 cm (4 ½ in); depth 10.2 cm (4 in). Photo: Ellie Harris 

Figure 18.14: Britannia metal caddy, c. 1855-60. Embossed ‘damask’ surface decoration; cap lid; impressed mark of ‘R.F. [Richard Ford] STURGES/PATENT’ on base. Height 11 cm (4 3/8 in); width 8.4 cm (3 3/8 in); depth 8.4 cm (3 3/8 in). Private collection 

Figure 18.15: Pewter caddy, c. 1905, designed by Archibald Knox, ‘Tudric’ range no. 0194, for Liberty & Co., London. Height 15 cm (6 in); width 12 cm (4 ¾ in); depth 12 cm (4 ¾ in). Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh 

Figure 18.16: Cut-steel caddy, c. 1780. Wooden carcass covered with panels of feather-patterned polished steel, ornamented with small steel studs; ivory stringing; broader band of ivory around base; steel-framed blue jasper cameo on front; silver drop-loop handle, hinge and lock; base covered with original red velvet; interior lined throughout with tinfoil, including inner lid with small silver drop-loop handle. Height 11 cm (4 3/8 in); width 13 cm (5 1/8 in); depth 13 cm (5 1/8 in). Private collection 

Figure 18.17: Tula cut-steel caddy, Russia, c. 1780-90. Wooden carcass; panels of ivory, painted with classical scenes and framed by steel beading, on all sides; broad bands of ivory set with cut-steel ornaments around base and lid; pierced steel handle. Height 12 cm (4 ¾ in); width 16 cm (6 ¼ in); depth 9 cm (3 ½ in). Decorative Art Services/Tony Stone 

Figure 18.18: Bronze caddy in Gothic Revival style, c. 1840. Cast bronze; brass lock; dark blue velvet on underside of lid; two interior compartments with lids veneered with tortoiseshell with ivory knobs. Height 20.3 cm (8 in); width 18.7 cm (7 3/8 in); depth 12.7 cm (5 in). Private collection 

Figure 18.19: Copper caddy in Arts and Crafts style, c. 1910. Copper, with silver mounts consisting of incised triangular panels on sides; twisted wirework around edge of lid; silver ornaments and finial mounted with carnelians, on top; brass feet; tinned interior. Height 16 cm (6 1/4 in); diameter 13 cm (5 1/8 in). The Peartree Collection