Doe and Hope

Description

Whimsically and beautifully crafted is this silver plate pepperette by Elkington and Co, having hallmarks that are discernable, though not distinct, and can be read to date letter C, corresponding to 1888. The brickwork detailing and overall body shape work wonderfully well the beams of light in this case replaced with the pepper cascading from the top windows.

Elkington & Co. are one of the most important names in English silver and certainly silver plate. They began life in Birmingham as a company of silversmiths in 1836, and experimented with improving gilding techniques discovering and patenting a new way to electroplate one metal on to the surface of another. In 1868, Queen Victoria permitted much of the royal plate to be copied by Elkingtons and they were also the suppliers of flatware to the luxury dining sections on board the Titanic and other ships in the White Star Line fleet.

In 1858, John Mason, thought it would be a good idea to put some holes on the lid of his jars to allow salt to sprinkle out and thus shakers were born. Before shakers, mills and cellars were used, though as designs for shakers are more diverse they are the choice of many more a collector.

This is certainly one of those designs, wonderfully suggestive, bringing all the magic, nostalgia and mystery of the lighthouse to your cabinet, or even your dining table.