Victorian Sterling Muffineer

Victorian era, ca. 1888 CE. A handsome sterling silver muffineer with a tall cylindrical body, richly chased in high-relief scrolling foliate motifs over a dense stippled ground, and topped by a pierced, domed screw cap for neat, controlled sprinkling of sugar or other seasonings. The bright silver surface catches the light across the raised ornament, while the openwork lid and snug threads speak to careful Victorian tableware engineering. Both the lid and the base share 5 hallmarks: lion passant silver standard mark; uncrowned leopard head for the London city mark; E. F over H.T. into a shield, for the maker Horace Woodward & Co Edgar Finley & Hugh Taylor; date letter N for the year 1888; Queen Victoria head in profile duty mark. 2 1/2"W x 6 1/4"H, 151.8 grams