Matching hallmarks on the base, snuffer and pull out nozzle. With an "egg" border.Very heavy gauge sterling silver.
Leslie Gordon Durbin was born in Fulham, London in 1913. In 1926 aged 13 years, Leslie obtained a London County Council Trade Scholarship and studied silversmithing at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (CSAC). When his education finished in 1929 he was recommended to Omar Ramsden, who duly took on Leslie as an apprentice. His apprenticeship over, he remained with Ramsden for another couple of years, but in 1938 won a Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ (the Company’s) scholarship for a year at the CSAC( Central School of Arts and Crafts)
After the War Leslie Durbin went into partnership with Len Moss, his senior at Ramsden’s.Their workshop was established at 62 Rochester Place in northwest London.
The quality of Durbin’s output was always of the highest standard, with the majority of the work being handraised. With regard to the normal output from the workshop, Leslie sought the commissions, designed the pieces, undertook the modelling and worked at the bench. Despite the output with a relatively small team he also managed to teach. Initially he taught at the CSAC from 1946 and then at the Royal College of Art, where he continued until the mid-1950s. He therefore encountered Gerald Benney, David Mellor and Robert Welch as students.
Some of Durbin's work was high profile, such as the modelling of the Queen’s head for the special 1977 Jubilee Mark.
Leslie Durbin died on 24 February 2005 aged 92. He was working well into his 80s.