I am delighted this piece is now in the collection,of a leading US museum.

A silver-plated jug  marked for the London silversmith and platers Richard Hodd and Sons.  It is a rare design by  Christopher Dresser. This design appears in Christopher Dresser, ‘The People’s Designer’, Harry Lyons, 2005, page 207, plate 400. The jug is also identifiable in Dresser’s workings known as the “Ipswich sketch book” (held at Ipswich Museum).  The design is classic modernist dresser with Japanese style ebonised handle and cleaned lined sinuous body.

Richard Hodd & Sons were a London based firm.  By about 1878 they were based at 30-31 Hatton Gardens, in a factory known as the Minerva Works.

Based on the design registration numbers on other known Hodd/Dresser designs it seems that Hodd made some of Dresser’s earliest metalwork dating to c 1878.  This is a rare piece and appears to have been made in at least three sizes that would imply its use as a cream or milk jug, coffee pot or cafe au lait and hot water jug.  This is the middle size identified and I would describe it as a coffee pot or cafe au lait.  An identical but slightly larger version recently sold at Bonhams, New York.  See this link.

The jug is marked for Richard Hodd & Sons with plate marks, together with the letters NM (possibly WN) stamped to the base, and a stamped bird or cross mark.  The latter all unidentified as to significance.

Condition of the jug is excellent.  There is just minor wear to the plating showing on the lid’s edges and one or two other areas.

Price range: Sold

Maker: Richard Hodd & Sons

Designer: Christopher Dresser

Date: c 1878

Marks: RH/RH, other marks

Material: Silver plate, ebonised wood handle

Condition: Excellent

Size: 16 cm high

Weight: NM