A George II ‘duty dodger’ silver bachelor coffee pot, London circa 1740 by Edward Feline (reg. 25^th Aug 1720)

Of tapering cylindrical form with moulded rim, the curved half-panelled spout opposite a fruitwood C scroll handle. The stepped domed surmounted by a knop finial. Engraved underneath with initials E.D in Roman script, traces of engraved initials to side. Scratch weight underneath 15=0. Marked with makers mark four times underneath, lid unmarked.

Height – 18.8 cm / 7.5 inches

Weight – 478 grams / 15.37 ozt

The term ‘duty dodgers’ is applied to pieces that were not sent for assay during the period 1720-58 whereby a steep tax was placed on silverware. The present example where by the makers mark is struck four times over in various directions to simulate the four marks required for assay at the time is the most innocuous of the methods deployed by duty dodgers and is found on multiple pieces by Paul de Lamerie who was known as a regular participant in tax dodging. Silversmiths had other, more nefarious, methods of escaping this tax which may involve transposing marks from small articles to large or by overstriking on marks cut out of much older pieces.