Featured help needed latham and morton mystery piece

Hi Guys,
New to this forum,
I have a piece which I think is a miss marriage and need help identifying it, the marks on the base as far as I can tell are makers Latham and Morton, possibly late 19th century early 20th century, I have looked everywhere for a picture of this item but can not find anything, hoping someone here may have an idea.
Pictures show base, figures etc. the piece measures 4.5cm tall without the cup and 6cm accross.

 

Welcome here, Peejay! Wait for the hallmarks specialists to pop in

@daveydempsey, you are an and an efficient photo improver!

 

Hi, thanks for making my pictures better, I am new to this and could not figure out how to put my pictures into my thread, bit of a novice, sorry

 

Just follow these instructions
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/posting-a-thread-and-uploading-pictures.15990/

 

Peejay, I haven't been able to find another like this, either. Either way, I think it's marvelous!

My best guess is that the holder once had a glass insert, but that's just a guess.

The marks on the holder are indeed those of Latham & Morton, for silver plate.
(http://www.silvercollection.it/englalatham.html) I wonder if those "strong little guys" were always attached to it?

Does the insert cup have any marks on it? This one's a mystery...

 

I think the "cup" is a random "gee, this might fit" addition. Original more likely glass.

 

Welcome to Antiquers, @peejay . What an interesting item. Thank you for posting it!

 

See here (despite description, would not be 'Sheffield-plated'): https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/47827164_pair-unusual-sheffield-plated-gnome-salt-cellars

~Cheryl

 

Fantastic, Cheryl, you nailed them!

 

I was thinking those looked like odd feet and I wondered if they sat on something however just found this so I guess not.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/box-victorian-silver-figural-gnome-gold-gilt-open

 

Rhaaah! Never seen one and... London bus effect (wait one for hours, then three appear at once)! Incredible! This whole set in box is sooo desirable

 

Wow, Cheryl & SIS! I'm so glad you found those & ended my misery, wondering how they came to be.

I still think these "strong little guys" are absolutely delightful.

 

W

Ow, that's brilliant, I'm do pleased to find out what my item is and surprised to find the two items do belong together, thank you so much for your help

 

Thanks everyone for all your help I will come here next time I s bamboozled.

 

I agree that the cup is probably a marriage, but I'm immensely curious to know what might have followed through with the theme of the stand. They look like gnomish workmen to me.

 

or...ya could come here more often.................

 

Totally original!

 

I'm surprised as well that the two belong together! But so much the better.