posted 11-09-2001 11:57 PM              

Hello everyone!

First timer here. I recently inherited many beautiful sterling silver items. One item in particular has had me stumped for 4 weeks now and I hope that someone can help me.

It is 10 inches long and I think it might be some kind of match holder. One end pulls off to reveal rather small matches tucked inside. The other end has a hinged cap and I have found nothing on the inside of that. It's very ornate. My father-in-law wondered if it was part of the Scottish knight uniforms and it would either hang from a chain (which is no longer attached) or was tucked into the socks of the soldiers.

The only markings I've been able to find are actually located twice on the item. I see a marking "SJ". Next to that are 3 other marks...one looks like a lion with a foot raised and the tail curled upwards. The second mark I am unable to make out. The 3rd mark is a "T".

The inlays on the silver are mostly floral patterned. One end is flat (circular) and the other end is a dome shape. The dome shape is the end that has the hinged opening. The only other thing I see is that it has what I would call a "pipe" attachment....one side has a small metal protrusion that is hollowed out in the center. The other side has two silver balls which I use to merely rest the item.

Hope this helps bring me a little closer to solving this mystery. I would love to know the history such as what it is, dates of it's existence and any web pages that talk about such an item.

Thanks!

posted 11-11-2001 10:19 AM            

As to the date of the piece, it sounds like it may be English and the lion passant indicates that it is solid silver.

Photos of the marks would be able to pin this down more specifically.

It is a wonderful piece!

posted 11-11-2001 10:53 PM            

You are absolutely correct about a monogram on the end but I hadn't mentioned that because so many items were monogrammed and I thought it was just the norm with this piece too ))) I am absolutely thrilled to learn what this is.

I've tried to take photos with the digital camera for the markings but they're too small. What's strange to me is that of all the pieces we've inherited, this is the first time I've seen sterling markings in 3 different places on an item. It's on each end as well as along the shaft.