Featured Sterling Toast Rack

We bought this rack in a batch of things, never looked at it close in all the moving around right after we bought, used it for napkin holder for a few years. just happen to look one day, it has hallmarks, so looked it up, 'sterling', 'London', tariff stamp, 1849, 'JE', but can not find JE, very well, think it's 'John Evans II', any opinions are welcome!

 

Hi,
I never used the toast racks for toast. I always used them to hold letters on my desk. I guess it was my anti-snob period.
greg

 

So did I.

 

My opinion - the picture of the marks is not sufficiently close to see either the date letter or the maker's initials. But it does appear that the maker's mark has 3 cartouches, not 2.

 

This should help a bit.....

 

Or maybe you just didn't like cold, dry toast. In it's original habitat, was the toast rack passed around the table & the slices removed as soon as it was set on the table? Are they always 6-seaters? What is the protocol of the toast rack? This one is gorgeous, but as a Yank I find presenting toast this way ill-conceived.

 

I don't know if this helps but I kept scrolling back and forth. I can't tell the year or if it's JF or JE or something else. Perhaps a clearer photo will help. I swear she has a ponytail.

 

I think my mini is adorable on my mini coffee/tea service set, but like greg says, like the toast rack better as a little letter rack!!!!

BTW, @say_it_slowly, am pretty sure it's JF......and you're right.....she's the one I call 'pony-tail girl' !!!!

EDIT**....Also....does anyone ELSE see the A in the LEFT mark with the Lion or Lamb.....whichever that animal is?????

 

I actually find a toast rack quite convenient... for serving toast!
We Americans tend to pile the pieces on top of one another, and the warmth/steam contributes to a soggy toast issue. When having a family breakfast, serving the toast in a rack keeps it crispy.

 

Think my bias is because I don't really like very crispy toast. Part of me finds toast racks very appealing & part of me says, Huh?

 

I don't like very crispy toast either, but I do like toast racks.

 

A little better, definitely looks like JE now, and the date code an 'O'

 

That's 1849, London. Toast racks ruin toast.

 

Best use them for letters.

 

Absolutely!

 

And a rather lovely 1849 piece, love the uncommon pierced base. My big revised Jackson's is packed away at the moment, but believe the maker's mark is one attributed to James Edwards.

These clips are from the 1921 Jackson's, the first showing the mark shown as found on an 1852/53 item (back then the date marks were changed in May, so the dating would properly be expressed with both years), and "probably" James Edwards; the second noting James Edwards found in business directories, etc, from 1841-50 (doesn't define the firm's working years):






This is from the silvermakersmarks site, Phil has given two possibilities on an 1833 spoon, so guessing that his research revealed only attributions (James Edwards II registered in 1824):

https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-JC-JF.html#JE



I like my toast light, not dried out, and well-buttered - but to each their own. This is from the 1850 'Miss Leslie's Complete Cookery':




~Cheryl

 

DragonflyWink! I'll take a few pictures to share of my very old toasting fork.

 

I use mine as a mobile phone docking station when I am charging the battery.

 

Now I want a toast rack! Not for toast, but there are many other possible uses.