Thomas Pitts OR Thomas Powell???

[maxbernat]

Hi all, I identified the maker of the epergne as Thomas Pitts. But I just found a thirty year old appraisal that identifies him as Thomas Powell. Thoughts?? Thanks!

[silvermakersmarks]

Grimwade (London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, Their Marks & Lives) identifies a T·P mark registered c1758 as Thomas Pitts I, with the note "Previously called Thos. Powell". This mark is not any of the surviving registers so was probably in the lost 1739-1758 Smallworkers' Register or the 1758-1773 Largeworkers' Register.

However this mark is dated 1809 so it is not the mark identified by Grimwade. In fact it appears to be Grimwade' mark 2879, Thomas Price, who registered as a smallworker 6 August 1802.

Phil

[maxbernat]

Thanks, Phil. Although I dated this 1789??!

[silvermakersmarks]

Certainly 1789 "o" and 1809 "O" are practically indistinguishable. I dated your epergne as 1809 because there is no convincing T·P candidate mark for 1789.

[Sasropakis]

Apparently double punch (date letter + duty mark) can be used to differentiate 1789 and 1809. I don't know if it's an absolute rule though. But based on that I would say that in this item it's not double punch and therefore the date would be 1789.

http://www.silvercollection.it/ASCASMCK ... EMARK.html

The mark of Thomas Pitts is listed here with a dot between the initials and it's mentioned that it has been seen on an epergne.

https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Mak ... TR.html#TP

[maxbernat]

I found this from zAntiques Roadshow!

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