posted 01-28-2006 12:23 PM            

Imagine my surprise when last week I say a very similar salt for sale also on eBay. This time the year was "f" for 1741-42 and the maker's name was legible - EW under a crown in an oval cartouge, as seen in Jackson's p 193, and identified there as Edward Wood. Naturally, I purchased it (for twice the price of the first)

Here's a picture of the two:

The first one I purchased (1742) is on the left.

The marks on the second one (1741) are:

The marks on the first sale (1742) are:

Curiously, the following initials are on one of the feet of the first (1742) salt:

Although very rubbed, the maker's mark on the first salt possibly shows signs of being Edward Wood.

The second salt I purchased seems to be made of better silver than the first and for some reason takes a far better shine - perhaps it was professionally polished recently. The vendor of this one on eBay told me that it had been purchased by his wife in a retail shop some years ago.

The first salt I purchased (the one with the worn maker's mark) seems to be much thinner than the second - consistent, I guess, with rubbed marks. Then again, even if two pieces began life from the same workshop, if they were separated and a goodly part of the last 263 or 264 years apart, who knows what differential treatment they could have received.

I would be very interested in hearing your comments on the foregoing.

Best wishes to all.