Object Description
An early antique silver kitchen pepper with simple plain styling, having a ring handle, pull off lid and centre horizontal band. Weight 61 grams, 1.9 troy ounces. Height 8cm. Diameter of base 5.5cm. London 1717. Maker Samuel Hitchcock. Britannia standard silver.
Weight 61 grams, 1.9 troy ounces.
Height 8cm. Diameter of base 5.5cm.
London 1717.
Maker Samuel Hitchcock.
*Britannia Standard silver is 95.8% pure. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.
Marks. Marked to the side of the body with the Britannia mark and date letter, inside the lid with the lion’s head erased and maker’s mark.
SAMUEL HITCHCOCK
Samuel Hitchcock, London silversmith, apprenticed to John Brace 1699, free 1707. Mark entered as largeworker 1713. 2nd (sterling) mark 1720. Livery 1721. 3rd mark 1730.