This is a smart Victorian Sterling Silver Pepper Shaker in the Georgian Revival style of the late 19th century. The shaker has a square base, a domed foot with beaded decoration and a wrythen classical urn shaped body. The screw on lid is domed with a reeded rim and turned finial.

The pepper shaker was made in Birmingham by silversmiths Nathan & Hayes and dates to 1890. 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 only a very slight, shallow bruise to the body plus the superficial surface wear that has to be anticipated after 135 years of use. Please make sure to view all the photographs as these form part of the description.

The shaker stands 8cm / 3.1ins high and is 3.5cm / 1.4ins in diameter across the top rim of the body. It weighs in at a respectable 26.6g / 0.94oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on the domed foot, are nice and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the anchor assay mark for Birmingham the date letter q for 1890 and the N & H makers' mark for Nathan & Hayes.