This is a beautiful silver plated ice lip pitcher by Barker Brothers 1886-1907

The company is now known as Barker-Ellis or Ellis-Barker Silver (see history below)

The back stamp on the bottom (Menorah and England) dates this piece circa 1886-1907

The pitcher has a lovely engraved floral design with a blank space on 2 sides for personal engraving (I do not do this, though)

The handle has a dent on the upper part and I believe it was put there so your thumb grips the handle better (I have seen this on other pitchers)

The pitcher is in very good condition, tarnished and minor scratches

Measures: 6" wide (lip to handle) by 7-1/4" tall

MARKS - HALLMARKS - HISTORY

Business established in Birmingham in 1801. The firm still possesses the original Boulton & Watt dies acquired during its early days of manufacturing. The business appears in an 1871 directory as Barker Brothers, silversmiths active in Paradise Street.

In 1903 they moved to new factory premises, Unity Works, Constitution Hill, Birmingham, where it remained until the 1980s maintaining a London showroom during the early part of the 20th century.

In 1907 the firm was converted into a limited liability company under the style Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd.

Levi & Salaman Ltd and its subsidiary Potosi Silver Co were incorporated by Barker Brothers in 1921.

In the 1960s, merging with Ellis & Co (Birmingham) Ltd, the firm changed to Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd. Members of Greenberg family were partners in Ellis & Co.

On January 2, 1979, the firm obtained a Federal registration in the USA for the trademarks Ellis & Co, Barker Ellis and Ellis Barker (the marks were cancelled in 1988).

The company went into administration in 1992.

The firm used the trade marks BRITANOID, UNITY PLATE and THE HYGENIA

CHRONOLOGY:

Mary Barker, 1801

Barker & Creed

William & Matthias Barker, until 1885

Barker Brothers, 1886-1907

Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd, 1907 amalgamated with Levi & Salaman, 1921, acquired Ellis & Co (Birmingham) Ltd, 1931

Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd