posted 05-21-2002 09:53 AM            

The 4 hallmarks on All of the cellars are TL crown lion D.

My best amateur research indicates these marks are:

1. TL - in an old "book Antiqua" type of lettering
   
2. The Sheffield crown - in use from 1773-1843.
   
3. The Lion Passant - in use from 1554-the end of the 17'th century.
   
4. The Capital D year mark - is the most difficult to read because of the size of the pieces. It looks most like the D in use in the London office in the year 1601. (This may conflict with the Sheffield crown.) Other candidates are the Sheffield capital D's for 1781 or 1812.
   
5. There is no soveriegn/duty mark - which I understand may indicate a date of pre-1784.

There are four cellars....I think neoclassical in design. They are in excellent condition. Four small salt spoons are included - round bowls, twisted design handles, animals are on the ends. 3 animals are saddled or pack bearing alpaca,llama...possibly camels. Oddly one <spoon of same design in every other way but...is topped with a monitor lizard type animal.

One spoon has a slight dent in rim of bowl. All four salt cellars are nearly pristine. The box has one scratch on bottom and some minor wear to edges It still works well and looks quite nice inside and out.

The history of the set: Given to my mother when I was a child by very elderly woman. Her mother was a southern plantation owner. The woman's family originated in England. The family was wealthy. She reported the salt cellars "Had always been in the sideboard of the plantation house" and to use her southern euphemism... they were "Older than dirt."

I appreciate your time in reading this post. I am quite curious about the history of this set...how old it might actually be and who was T L?

The silver is quite beautiful and timeless, as is the design. Before I began looking into it I thought it to be "kind of old...and pretty" so I always kept it in it's case so as to not damage it. I had no idea it might be REALLLLLY old. I am not a collector...the only real silver I own is. I happen to prefer it in jewelry I wear. Any information at all would be appreciated.

Thank you so much,
Jennie

posted 05-21-2002 10:14 AM            

You are correct that the crown mark was not used before the Sheffield office opened in 1773. But I don't know why you think it stopped in 1843. In fact, it was in use throughout the rest of the 19th century and the entire 20th as well. I don't know the maker's mark "TL," but there were many firms in business in Sheffield at that time.

Sets like these were made in large quantities in Sheffield after about 1880.
But the fact that the spoons have animal finials would make them a bit more desirable and interesting for collectors, along with the fact that they are in the original box.

posted 05-21-2002 03:45 PM            

Do the three righthand ones look similar to the ones on your salts?

Levesley sounds like a good match as maker.

[This message has been edited by akgdc (edited 05-21-2002).]

posted 05-22-2002 02:48 AM            

Thank you so much for your knowledgeable advice.

Due to some questions raised by the curator

• True neoclassical design?
  
• Were the spoons and presentation box a later addition?
  
• Was the TL stamped in a neat rectangle?

The Forum master and members raised the possibility of Thomas Levesley of Levesley Brothers. I went searching on the net and Lo and behold found my mystery date letter:


I also found an example of Thomas Levesley's TL mark and it did match mine exactly.

I had net surfed for days looking for information on my salt set. I found out more here in five minutes. Without ever seeing the pieces (and with me having virtually no correct information to offer) your questions and your observations steered me in exactly the right direction.

My salt cellar set is:

Edwardian
Reign of Edward VII
1901-1909
made by: Thomas Levesley of Levesley Brothers
Sheffield England
in the year 1908

If anyone does have an idea of ballpark value...please let me know if it is such that I should schedule it separately on my homeowners insurance. (I know that at 1908 it wouldn't be a fortune or anything but cannot find any other complete salt sets in a box from that era for any kind of comparison.)

Again, Thank you for sharing your knowledge with those of us truly new to understanding silver history. This is OBVIOUSLY the place to come with a silver question. I appreciate your friendliness and courtesy as well. No one started their reply with "Well....DUH" <laughing.>

Member akgdc was very informative on the silver hallmarks and gave me much more correct information than what looked to be very large and legitimate hallmark information sites on the web. I was all "off" on what I had "learned" about the Sheffield crown, duty marks and the lion passant. You steered me to exactly the right year. I'm just absolutely amazed you were able to do that with the horribly incorrect information I was running with.

I am impressed with you people!

All Best,
Jennie