assistance please from a newbie

[fiddlesticks]

Hi peeps, am pretty new to knowing a lot about silver but picked up this piece and can't find a thing about it on the net. Thought the more experienced might be able to assist and also identify it's use, a salt maybe? Any help would be appreciated. Am assuming it is British, thanks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/f ... /silv1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/f ... ilver2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/f ... ilver3.jpg

[Waylander]

Your piece is Silver Plate (not Sterling Silver) by James Dixon and Sons of Sheffield (mark being a bugle). James Dixon established his company in 1806, becoming "& Sons" in 1835. They produced a large variety of goods, from Britannia metal articles, EPNS, to good quality silver.

Their JD&S mark is easily mistaken for James Deakin & Sons, however in the absence of trademarks the "JD&S" of James Dixon & Sons is always on a single line.

The company acquired the firm of William Hutton & Sons Ltd. in 1930 and it remained in the hands of the Dixon family until 1976.

Waylander

[fiddlesticks]

many thanks for your help Waylander,much appreciated, have some info now so I can go have a mooch on the net see what else I can find out. Do you think it's a relish,mustard tray. Is the "A" the date mark?
thanks

[Waylander]

As far as I am aware, they never used date letters (A) (it was a very uncommon practice for English silverplate makers). It may just be a mark to indicate who made it, as many of the larger makers employed journeymen silversmiths on a "per piece" basis.

Waylander

[fiddlesticks]

many thanks for your help, very much appreciated