A George III provincial sterling silver milk jug, Exeter circa 1797 by Richard Jenkins (died 1806)

Of helmet form upon a pedestal square form base, reeded rim and a simple loop handle. The body with bright cut engraved decoration of rosettes, the front with an elliptical cartouche engraved with contemporaneous initials WCH in cursive script. Marked to front of foot rim with maker’s mark, lion passant and duty mark only.

Height – 15.3 cm / 6 inches

Weight – 113 grams / 3.63 ozt

Richard Jenkins is first mentioned in the Exeter assay books on the 24^th of January 1765, being mayor of Exeter in 1787 and 1800. In 1801 he is listed as being in North Street, Exeter. The combination of ‘letterbox’ lion passant and duty mark with one cusp is believed to have had a very short period of use around the time of the doubling in duty on the 5^th July 1797.