Help Identifying Silver Conch / Shell Shaped Piece Possible Wine Cooler ???

[mags_finds]

Hello Everyone

I am asking for a friend  ~ hope somone can help

I am afraid that we don't know anything abou tthis piece not even what it is.  I have tried every search can think of and the closest I can come is tht it may be a wine chiller.  Hope someone can help

This piece measures approx 8" high and 5" wide

Marking is hard to read But we can see the 1878 and a crest and 1979

It has a chain attached

Bottom of item

Thank you all in advance

Shirley

[veranda-estate]

could you get a closer pic of the marks?  Take the item outside or near a window and take pic without a flash. Also, what is diameter of opening where you presume a wine bottle would fit though?

[sathya7]

Interesting piece,  as the previous member said identification of the piece will be from the hallmarks. Luckily the net has very comprehensive guides to world hallmarks. Looking forward to seeing them and solving this mystery. I am guessing a gift to a ship's captain 🙂

[mags_finds]

HI, and thank you for your answers !  As I said I am doing this as a favor to a friend...I will see if she can get her camera to get any closer to the hallmarks. 

In the meantime, do you have any guesses as to what it is. lol

I thought maybe a wine chiller, but I have no idea.i will have her measure the opening.

Thanks so much

Shirley

[mags_finds]

Hello Again 🙂

Here are a few more pics

he opening on the conch is 3" by 1.5 approx. so not a wine chiller

Hope these help.......thanks again for all your help ...

Shirley

[veranda-estate]

The first diamond shaped mark is an English registry mark - you can google that and get an explanation of how to date the item but since you have a date engraved on it, you are already kind of there.

The S, I believe, indicates Sheffield and a lot of silver plate came out of there, so that's not a mystery

I'm not sure about the A and B however

we still don't know what it was intended to hold, however! 

[sathya7]

How about a pipe roost? still on the Ship Captain's gift tack... so it is English... the rest should be just a search for "contemporary marks"? A and B could be a company? sigh, still a lot of questions 🙂

[sathya7]

Give this a shot..

http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSAA.html

[veranda-estate]

It could be a spoon warmer - I had one once that looked like this: 

Apparently, before they served soup at the table, they warmed the spoons - it was a typical Victorian thing. 

[veranda-estate]

another question though - there's a chain on your shell and a hanging loop of sorts at the top?  Does this thing 'hang'? 

[sathya7]

Excellent thought! hot water in the shell? those Victorians had something for every situation and need 🙂

[mags_finds]

whoa.....Yes it does have a chain and a loop ...so.....it is a ??????????

[mags_finds]

oops........sorry apparently the owner does not think it would hang

[mags_finds]

Could it be......A B Savory and Sons ...Sheffield Silverplate ??

[mags_finds]

It is an antique spoon warmer .....lol here is the link

http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/244417/rare-antique-english-spoon-warmer-marine-buoy-registration-m...

Thank you all so very much.I couldn't have done it without you ..........

THANK YOU

Shirley