ANTIQUE (1890-1920) BRITTANIA METAL JAMES DIXON AND SONS SHEFFIELD ENGLAND TEAPOT

A BEAUTIFUL BRITTANIA METAL TEAPOT WITH FLUTED EMBOSSED SIDES AND LID.

HANDLE HAS TWO INSULATORS STILL IN TACT. HINGE AND LID IN TACT.

ONE DENT TO THE SIDE BUT OTHERWISE STRUCTURALLY GOOD AND RATHER HEAVY 495G.

MADE BY JAMES DIXON AND SONS SHEFFIELD ENGLAND BETWEEN 1890 AND 1920.
 
MARKINGS: TRUMPET AND BANNER FIGURAL MARK
The first corporate mark of the trumpet (bugle) and banner was granted in 1879, and the second with the name was added in 1890. Some authors claims that the trumpet with banner trade mark was officially registered in 1881 though being in use prior to that. In 1890 the name Dixon was added to the trumpet and banner In 1921 James Dixon and Sons in a semi-circle with Sheffield beneath and EPBM beneath that. IT WAS USED UNTIL AROUND 1930 WHEN THE FIRM WAS CONVERTED INTO AN LTD COMPANY.
 
The "Trumpet and Banner" identifies without doubt Dixon's production. It is a fundamental element to prevent mistakes with the marks "JD & S" used by another Sheffield manufacturer, James Deakin & Sons
 
JD&S (JAMES DIXON AND SONS)
EPBM (ELECTRO PLATED BRITTANIA METAL)
3643
 
SIZE: 13CM WIDE FROM SPOUT TO HANDLE
17CM HIGH
 
CONDITION: SOME SILVER PATINA. ONE DENT TO THE LEFT SIDE. HANDLE HAS TWO INSULATORS STILL IN TACT. HINGE AND LID IN TACT. WEIGHT 495G
 
JAMES DIXON AND SONS (1806 - 1992):
The business of manufacturing silversmiths, platers and Britannia metal workers was commenced in c. 1806 by James Dixon in conjunction with Thomas Smith in Silver Street, Sheffield, England.
In 1823 Thomas Smith withdrew and William Frederick Dixon, the eldest son of James, joined the firm. In 1824 they moved to Cornish Place, a large site, which enabled them to expand and develop the workshops, casting shops, offices and warehouses. In 1830, the firm began making silver and plated goods at Cornish.
When James Willis Dixon, the second son of James, joined the firm the name was changed to James Dixon & Sons. In 1836, the firm began to make spoons and forks from nickel silver - an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc starting from 1848 to produce electroplate.
In 1920 the firm was converted into a limited liability company and in 1930 the firm of William Hutton & Sons Ltd of Sheffield was absorbed into James Dixon & Sons Ltd.
In the 1980s the firm had a financial collapse and the production in Cornish Place closed in 1992.
CHRONOLOGY:
Dixon & Smith c. 1806-1823
James Dixon & Son c. 1823-1835
James Dixon & Sons 1835-1920
James Dixon & Sons Ltd 1920
absorbed William Hutton & Sons Ltd 1930
financial collapse and absorbed into British Silverware Production c. 1984
acquired by Chase Montague Group & Thesco 1993
 
BRITTANIA METAL:
BRITANNIA METAL VS. BRITANNIA SILVER
The term Britannia has a couple of meanings in the metal refining industry. There is Britannia silver, a grade of silver purity and composition, and Britannia metal, which is a type of alloy.
Although the two forms of Britannia are very different in terms of value, they are both lustrous, silvery metals. Britannia metal is very similar to pewter. Its an alloy containing 93% tin, 2% copper, and 5% antimony (a metal similar to lead). Pewter usually made of 8599% tin, with the rest being a mixture of copper, antimony, bismuth and lead.
Britannia metal alloy is very smooth, which makes it a perfect base metal for electroplating and gilding. The Oscars presented at the Academy Awards are made of Britannia with gold plating.
Britannia silver is a standard of purity first issued by British parliament in 1697. It contains 95.84% silver (the rest is usually copper). Britannia silver was meant to become the new metal-working standard of purity for special and artisanal projects replacing sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure. Britannia silver is also used for the bullion coins produced by Britains Royal Mint.

PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE VARIOUS OTHER SILVERPLATED ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK.