help with a silver tray/got the pics on now

[embersona]

I have recently got passed on a silver tray about 6" x 4" . It has coins imbedded in it from 1787. some of these say georgIVS II and some of them say georgIVS III. I have looked up all the hallmarks on this site and found it to have the lion passant mark, London Town Mark, think the time mark is betweeen 1876-1896 as it has an F in a shield and the F is very well formed (almost typed) with serifs and then the picture of Queen Victoria. The thing I can't seem to find out is the other stamp which I assume is the Markers Mark. It says F.B.T and has what looks like the three welsh feathers or a three pronged crown. not sure. any help would be greatfully received. Thanks got the pics now!!






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[2209patrick]

I believe that's the mark of Francis Boone Thomas. Last half of the 19th century & 1st half of the 20th century. Jackson's pocket edition has them listed as a "Bond street retailer".

Pat.
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[Granmaa]

The coins are silver shillings by the way.

Miles
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[nigel le sueur]

Yes he was a Bond Street retailer but also a silversmith who started his apprenticeship on the 3rd Feb 1847, due to the death of his father he then was turned over to John William Thomas II (brother)of 153 New Bond Street on the 3rd November 1852 he became free on the 1st march 1854, when his brother died circa 1862-1867 he took over the firm and changed its name to F.B. Thomas & Co.
He entered his first mark on the 13th May 1874 listing 153 New Bond Street as the firms showroom and 13 Oxford market as its manufactory, however that address was the working premises of Richard Sibley ll who is noted as supplying silverware to order for retailing by Thomas.
So it is possible that the tray was made by Sibley, however your tray is only marked FBT and normally it would be stamped by both and according to the records in 1880 Sibley (and your tray is marked 1801/02) had a new mark entered by his son from another address.
Hope you are following this :-)
Thomas had an apprentice called called Charles Henry Townley (nephew)who was free on the 1st Febuary 1871, and it appears never entered a mark until 1901.
So after all the above who made the tray? my money is on the nephew who took over the firm with John William Thomas lll (not big on names then) in 1901 both of them silversmiths, the company stayed open until 1941 .
Nigel
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[georgiansilver]

I have seen the pics of the tray and the mark and it is solid silver. Made in 1881-2...London...by Francis Boone Thomas. It incorporates georgian silver coins.
Best wishes, Mike.
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