Victorian Sterling Silver Hot Water Jug, Nathan & Hayes, Chester, 1898

  
Here we have a fine quality late Victorian Sterling Silver Hot Water Jug. The jug is in the Georgian Revival style with swag decoration around the body and a large blank cartouche. The round stepped base has beaded decoration and the handle is cane wrapped so that it is easy to carry and pour when the contents are hot. The jug was made by Nathan & Hayes of Birmingham and assayed in Chester in 1898.

George Nathan and Ridley Hayes began their partnership in Birmingham in the late 1880s. They are particularly known for their good quality silver tableware, which they primarily assayed in Birmingham, and more personal items such as buckles, buttons and dressing table jars, which they mostly assayed in Chester. They remained in business up until around 1920. Condition is good with just a few small dings to the body and the superficial surface wear that has to be expected after 125 years of good service. The hinge on the lid is in full working order and the cane wrapping on the handle is in good condition.

Please make sure to view all the photographs as these form part of the description. The jug is 21.3cm / 8.4ins high, 12.6cm / 5ins from lip to handle and 9cm / 3.5ins across the body. It weighs in at a very substantial 366g / 12.9oz of Sterling Silver, with just a very small amount of this being the cane wrapping. The hallmarks, on the neck of the jug, are nice and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the crown and three wheatsheaves assay mark for Chester, the date letter P for 1898 and the G. H in a shield makers' mark for George Nathan & Ridley Hayes.