If this were a London piece I would be almost certain that the spout was not original but as it is Irish I am open minded. The silversmith was clearly trying out some different techniques. The feet are in the distinctive style of this maker but are hollow. Made in two halves, the pattern stamped in and then soldered together. A common technique later on but solid casting would have been the usual way in 1819.

We have the sugar basin and there are no signs of handle removal from the spout side of the jug so can we be certain that this is the matching jug and always has been? Is this the original spout? The line/border engraving varies over the pieces, all similar in style but none identical, so that passes the test but why so plain? Why no leaves or acorns on those flat areas? This is suspicious. Both pieces are of good quality with just the right amount of decoration for the period. They would have been expensive. The spout is competently made, the quality of work similar to the body, the solder lines could easily have all been done by the same silversmith. If this is a replacement spout then why? If your local man could build this spout then he certainly could have repaired the old one. What could have happened that required complete spout replacement and why go for such an odd shape?

Let us ignore the lack of signs of handle removal for a moment and just consider the form. It is a sugar bowl with one handle swapped for a spout so let us continue with that thought. What then is the large sugar basin?

Irish silver fashions and designs often followed London but lagged by several years with older styles staying in fashion for longer. Earlier tea services had a large bowl for slops. It would often resemble the sugar bowl but be larger and have a lid if the style permitted. I am being drawn to the thought that the large basin was originally for slops but as the quality of tea improved the need for a slops bowl dwindled or they simply became old fashioned. Slops bowl becomes sugar basin, original sugar basin becomes jug. There is more rubbing to the decoration of the jug consistent with use as a jug. You will clean your jug after every use but your sugar bowl less often. This indicates that the change of use happened a long time ago.

I may be wrong. The discussion is now open and your thoughts appreciated.

Available Sugar Bowls