object Robert Pringle

[Heidi]

Who can identify this object for me. Hallmarked Birmingham 1899, maker Rober Pringle & sons, registered ca 1895.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51275402@N03/
Thanks for your help.

[piette]

What information do you need?
You seem to know when and where it was hallmarked, along with the maker.

Regards,
Piette

[Heidi]

I would like to know what it is, in the meantime I found on eBay UK that it is a salt, which mostly come in sets.
Regards
Heidi

[piette]

I would like to know what it is, in the meantime I found on eBay UK that it is a salt, which mostly come in sets.
Regards
Heidi

Hi Heidi,
What size is this item?
By the looks of it, I would say it is most likely a small bon bon dish.
Regards,
Piette

[piette]

I would like to know what it is, in the meantime I found on eBay UK that it is a salt, which mostly come in sets.
Regards
Heidi

Hi Heidi,
What size is this item?
By the looks of it, I would say it is most likely a small bon bon dish.
Regards,
Piette

Having checked, Robert Pringle is not known as a maker of bon bon dishes - it is most likely a salt, yes.

Regards,
Piette

[MCB]

Hello Heidi,

On page 374 of John Culme's book on London Silversmiths 1838-1914 he writes of an advertisement placed by Robert Pringle & Co (note the & Co which applied when the dish was assayed) in which "childrens cans, salt cells (sic), and spoons, serviette rings, Apostle and coffee spoons, cups, goblets, mustard pots and spoons, muffineers, cream jugs, sugar basins, tea spoons, medals and Alberts" were offered for sale. Add to these tea and coffee pots, thimbles, buckles, casters and sports trophies which my notes show were made by the company and their catalogue looks as though it would include most of the every day silver items offered by their competitors. This would include dishes for nuts and bon-bons.

As can be seen Robert Pringle & Co weren't specialist bon-bon dish makers but they weren't specialist salt cellar makers either.

In trying to determine the intended use of a dish size is relevant. At the time this dish was assayed salt cellars generally tended to be made relatively small, bon-bon etc dishes somewhat larger hence Piette's question. Though when a dish small enough to be thought a salt cellar becomes large enough to be a bon-bon dish is problematic.

Another issue with the dish not previously mentioned is the amount of decoration. Salt seriously tarnishes silver if left in contact with it. Cleaning this dish to be rid of salt would be a regular and time consuming problem and would quite likely have left the dish looking well worn or if not regularly cleaned then salt tarnished.

Mike

[piette]

Hello Heidi,
Another issue with the dish not previously mentioned is the amount of decoration. Salt seriously tarnishes silver if left in contact with it. Cleaning this dish to be rid of salt would be a regular and time consuming problem and would quite likely have left the dish looking well worn or if not regularly cleaned then salt tarnished.

Mike

What Mike has said here is correct, although from the pictures it would appear that the dish has been gilded on the inside with Gold and this would prevent the tarnishing.

Personally I would say the decoration and width:depth ratio of this item is more like that of a dish, wether it be a bon bon dish or trinket dish.

I would like to concude that, unless this item is quite small (under 2.5" in diameter) it is most probably a Bon bon dish.

Regards,
Piette

[Heidi]

Thank you all for your comments, the very small bowl is not gilded inside, it is almost 5 cm in widt and 2 cm in height. So I don't know what to conclude, a salt or not. You could put one bonbon in it, or quite some salt......
Regards
Heidi