Georgian Sterling Basket

[eleventh]

here is a sterling silver basket made in London, 1797.
the maker's mark is HS.
Who was HS?



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[buckler]

Could it be Solomon Hougham standing on his head ?
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[eleventh]

a silversmith standing on his head is a funny idea.

do you think he did the casting upside down or just the decorating?
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[buckler]

If he did the decorarating standing on his head, all the paint would go into his hair, gadrooning it !

Seriously I think that your HS could easily be read as SH for Solomon Hougham. I think Solomon, died 1818, was perhaps the brother of Charles Hougham who died 1793. Does anyone know if this was the relationship ?
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[Granmaa]

Grimwade describes both of them as the son of Solomon Hougham, so they could be brothers or father and son. The dates suggest brothers.

Miles
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