Posted 13 years ago
lstites
(3 items)
I found this Tea pot when cleaning out an estate. It has some bruises, but appears to have Silver in it. The tip of the pot that screwed off is missing. The mark on the bottom, appears to be two lions, and the letters,
E,P,
N,S,
L,B.
Stacked that way with ornate detail around each letter and the last two letters are further apart from each other.
I am afraid to clean it because there are other metals involved. Perhaps some copper. Handle is very heavy. Can anyone tell me anything about it? thank you!
EPNS = Electro Plated Nickel Silver.
I don't think it is Scottish, it's American!
LEHMAN BROTHERS SILVERWARE CORP - New York, NY - active around 1930.
I thinks it's a cocktail shaker.
I think your right! Thank you! Wish I had the cap. How would you clean it? Silver polish or brasso? or just soap and water. Would love to make it shine again. thank you for your comments!
The silver had been over cleaned years ago and has worn off the 'planished' surface of the body. The planishing provides the 'spots' where there is still some silver below the surface.
If it is not a valuable item I'd give it a clean, if you want to.
Mind you there is probably someone who might be prepared to have it restored and/or re-plated.
The dings will be even more obvious, though if you clean it.
Do you have a silver cloth? It is a less harsh way of taking off some of the oxidation. I'm sure silver polish would work on the handle as a first step.
Brasso is much harsher than silver polish. Only use it as a last resort on the body. Even then I would be careful and light of touch.
I've found that these planished plated wares can be very troublesome. I have a tea-pot that I use that has a similar but less severe problem. I cleaned it once with a polish and ever since just rub it with a silver cloth when it is used.
It looks like a cocktail shaker to me. Beautiful shaker.