A merdog??? A strange one for sure. Given the crest engraving, I figure the piece is most likely Brit, but Thos. Howell of London (Bath), entered 1791, is the only maker's mark that comes close, and there are no London hallmarks on the item. No duty dodger maker marks that I can find. There is an American mark for Thos. Hammersley (1756) that is also close, but the crest doesn't point to an American origin. Any opinions? TIA!