James Dixon & Sons, Sterling Silver Cup, Sheffield, 1906

Important rocaille cup in openwork and chiseled silver decorated with foliage scrolls, palms and palmettes, trellis, pearls, flowers and florets including blooming roses. It rests on a beautiful foot also made up of leafy foliage, palms and palmettes, pearl friezes, florets and open flowers.


Hallmarks

Silversmith, James DIXON& Sons.

Town mark, Sheffield.

Lion passant.

Date letter, 1906.

Weight, 0,741 pounds (470 grams).

Sheffield, England.

Condition report, minor losses and repercussions.


J DIXON & Sons (James DIXON & Sons) founded 1806 in Sheffield, was one of the major British manufacturers in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. They were well known as manufacturers of Pewterware, Electroplated Britannia metal see, Silverware and Electroplated nickel silver. Their products included hundreds of items for use in the kitchen and the dining room ( tea services, cocktail shakers, …) as well as items like candlesticks for all rooms. They were a world leader in manufacturing shooting accessories through nineteenth century and exported powder flasks in large quantities to America, They were known as whistle makers, which like most of their products were of outstanding quality.

It was located first at Silver Street (1806), then moved to Cornish Place (1822) Sheffield .
Their registered trade mark since 1879 was a Trumpet with a Banner hanging from it. Although registered in 1879, the "Trumpet with Banner" logo was used at times before registration and appears on some of their silver plate pieces.

They were one of the foremost names in EPNS and sterling silver tableware including silver tea services and hollowware pieces. They also made silver ware serving pieces and had a wide catalogue of patterns. Their tea sets and hollowware pieces produced in silver are very valuable as antiques.

They were also famous for their sporting trophies. Two of the most well-known are the Hales Trophy commissioned in 1932 (sometimes called the Blue Riband) and the American Masters Golf tournament held annually in Augusta Georgia. This trophy is a scale model of the clubhouse made in 1959-60 and contains 453 troy ounces of silver.

The firm continued to be a family run enterprise until 1976. The patterns are currently owned by another Sheffield firm who export products mainly to the Middle East.


MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Teapot, Britannia metal, bone, 1842-51, inv. 1990.92.2.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Tea urn, Britannia metal, 1830-34, inv. 10.69a, b.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Tray, fused silver plate, 1835-50, inv. 69.141.4.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Pouder Flask, Tortoiseshell, wood, silver, steel, 1800-1835, inv. 31.122.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Claret jug, Britannia metal, 1870-79, inv. 16.116.58.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Vase base, electroplated silver, 1840-60, inv. 1983.244.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Saltcellar (pair), silver, 19th century, inv. 13.8.12 and13.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Plate, copper, silver-plated, 1830, inv. 1986.264.11.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Pitcher, design by Christopher DRESSER, silver-plate, ivory, 1881, inv. 1999.69.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Two saltcellars, Sheffield, 19th century, inv. 13.8.14,.15.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Spoon holder, design attributed to Christopher DRESSER, Silver-plated brass, ebony, ca. 1878-81, inv. 1988.164.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Toast rack, design by Christopher DRESSER, silver plate, 1879, inv. L.2019.18.4.

The Metropolitan Museum, New York, Teapot, design by Christopher DRESSER, silverplate, ebony, 1879, inv. L.2019.18.2.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 4th Sheffield Angling Cup, Silver, embossed and engraved, 1859-60, inv. M.44&A-1960.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Bottle ticket, silver, repoussé, 1863-64, inv. M.1168-1944.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Coffee pot, Britannia metal, silver plated, ivory, 1850, inv. M.23-1999.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, design by Christopher DRESSER, electroplated nickel silver, ebony, 1880, inv. CIRC.279-1961, CIRC.279A-1961, CIRC.279B-1961.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Tankard, design by Alfred STEVENS, electroplated nickel silver,CIRC.138-1953.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Teapot, design by Christopher DRESSER, electroplated nickel silver, ebony, 1879, inv. M.4-2006.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Teapot, design by Christopher DRESSER, electroplated nickel silver, ebony,, 1879, inv. M.6-2006.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Double dish, design by Christopher DRESSER, electro-plated nickel silver, 1880, inv. M.14-1970.

The British Museum, London, Jug, design attr. toWilliam RIDGEWAY, earthenware, pewter, 1850-60, inv. 2013,8009.1.

The British Museum, London, Sugar basin, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, gold, ca. 1885, inv. 1980,0205.1.

The British Museum, London, Teapot, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, 1880-85, inv. 1982,0108.4.

The British Museum, London, Teapot, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver,ca. 1885, inv. 1980,0503.1.

The British Museum, London, Toast-rack, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, 1879-85, inv. 1981,1005.1.

Imperial War Museum, London, Plaque commémorative, metal, inv. 27691.

Millenium Gallery, Sheffield (GB), Bread knife to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VIII, 1937, inv. 1968.208.

Millenium Gallery, Sheffield (GB), Candlesticks, pewter, 1900, inv. 1977.691.

Weston Park Museum, Sheffield (GB), Jug, metal, silver, 1850-1900, inv. T050.

Sheffield Museums, Sheffield (GB), Communion set, metal, silver,, 1898, inv. 2007.75-79.

National Railway Museum,York (GB), Nickel silver salver, inv. 1997-8840

National Railway Museum,York (GB), Silver plated grape scissors, Great Northern Railway - Dining Cars, inv. 1975-8267.

National Railway Museum,York (GB), Silver plated fish knife, Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway - Bradford, 1848-1878, inv. 1998-8498.

National Railway Museum,York (GB), Silver plated sugar tongs, Great Central Railway - 'C', inv.1975-8328.

Science Museum, Londres, Pewter medicine spoon (5), invented by C. Gibson, 19th century, inv. A42399, A42415, A42398, A42396, A42397.

Science Museum Group Collection (GB), Commemorative trowel, Quicks, 1959, sterling silver and wood,inv. Y2007.86.11.

Science Museum Group Collection (GB), Pewter round-bodied tea pot,1850-1900, inv. 1974-94.

Science Museum Group Collection (GB), Shaving mug,1851-1900, inv. A48856.

History of Science Museum, University of Oxford (GB), Powder and shot measure, coppel and wood, end of 19th century, inv. 39286.

National Museum of American History, Washington (US), Tea service,design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, 1880, inv. 2005.62.1, 2, 3.

Fine Arts Museum of San Fransisco, San Fransisco (US), Tea service,design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, 1880, inv. 2005.62.1, 2, 3.

Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Providence (US), Teapot, 1800, inv. 40.017.146.

Art Institute, Chicago (US),Communion cup, 1845, inv. 1938.851.

Goldstein museum of Design, University of Minnesota, Saint-Paul (US), Silver «self Pouring» teapot for John James Royle, 1886.

Landesmuseum Württemberg, Stuttgart, Service à thé, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, 1880.

Museum of New Zealand, Wellington (NZ), Teapot, pewter, ebony, 1800, inv. GH003410.

Museum of New Zealand, Wellington (NZ), Toast rack, metal, silver, 1879-85, inv. 2012-0001-2.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Teapot, metal, silver, 1833, inv. P205.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Container, metal, inv. 1996.2.43.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Flask, copper, inv. W0927.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Flask, powder and shot, copper, 19th century, inv. 1968.165.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Flask, wiskey, glass and metal, 1953, inv. 33552.

Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Condelstick, pair, metal, silver, inv. 1990.42.

Le Musée d’Orsay, Paris,Théière, design by Christopher DRESSER, metal, silver, ebony, ca. 1879.

Musée National Magnin, Dijon, Bouilloire, metal, silver, inv. 1938ORF2.

Musée National Magnin, Dijon, Cafetière, metal, silver, inv. 1938ORF55.

Musée National Magnin, Dijon, Théière, metal, silver, agate, inv. 1938ORF44.

Musée National Magnin, Dijon, Verseuse, metal, silver, agate, 19th century, inv. 1938ORF2.

Musée National Magnin, Dijon, Verseuse, metal, silver, agate, 19th century, inv. 1938ORF38.

Cornwall Community Museum, Cornwall (CA), Colonel John Crysler’s teapot, metal, silver, ebony, ca. 1844.

Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Owen Sound (CA), Flask powder, copper, brass, 19th century, inv. 1969.080.015.

Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Owen Sound (CA), Dome, food (3), metal, silver, 19th century, inv. 1973.115.020, 031, 032.

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney (AUS), Adelaide Steamship Company Limited spoon for crew use (3), metal, silver, inv. 00048134, 5, 1.

Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney (AUS), Twelve Dixon Old English Table Forks table forks made for the Adelaide Steamship Company for use by their crew, metal, silver, paper, inv. 00048160.

Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Sydney (AUS), Flask by James Dixon & Sons owned by Sir Henry Parkes, metal, silver, 1835-55, inv. A8469.

Museum Victoria, Melbourne (AUS), Powder and shot measure.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

COOPER BELL, Pauline, Made In Sheffield: The Story of James Dixon & Sons Silversmiths, ALD Design & Print2004.

RUDOE Judy, Design and Manufacture Evidence from the Dixon & Sons Calculation Books in The Journal of the Decorative Arts Society 1850 - the Present, Papers of the Symposium held jointly by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Decorative Arts Society 18 October 2004 (2005), pp. 66-83.