Mustard spoon

[paulh]

I cannot find the marks on this spoon in any of my references. It is an English style fiddle mustard spoon of a good gauge silver and gilded in the bowl. The pseudo marks suggest that it is colonial, but my searches have not turned up any answers.

The maker’s mark is MSB in a cut cornered rectangle. This is followed by a “lion passant” facing the wrong way, then a “monarch’s head” and finally a rubbed mark, which may represent a date latter. There is also what appears to be a journeyman’s mark of an incuse letter P.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Paul.

This is my first attempt at posting a picture, so let me know if it worked!

http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/24/msbfront.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/24/msbmark.JPG

[2209patrick]

Good work on the pictures.
That set of marks was used by Michael Septimus Brown (1818-1886), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Started his business in 1840. In 1851 he took on his nephew Thomas Brown as an apprentice. When his uncle died Thomas Brown took over the business in 1886 and changed the mark to MSB & Co H. I believe the H stands for Halifax.
In 1919 the company was sold to Henry Birks & Sons.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3710/scan10001xv2.jpg

Regards,
Pat.

[paulh]

Thanks Pat. You have solved a long standing mystery. I suspected that it might be Canadian, as that is where there is a gap in my reference library.

Happy New Year

Paul.