William Sudell? Date indicates 1753?

[mccracken]

I thought I already posted this but I couldn't find it. I hope you can see the hallmarks - it is very difficult to photograph such a small image on silver.
This creamer has the initials WS and the date is correlates with 1753 - it is that weird looking 'r' or which I guess is supposed to be an 's'. The hoof feet match the other scarce Sudell pieces I have found. On the bottom of two of the feet are the letters 'M' and 'B'? Not sure what those mean or if those were the owners' initials?
My question is, the dates I have for Sudell are 1766 and this date indicates 1753? Why is that?



Thank you for looking.
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[MCB]

Hello,
The date letter certainly looks like the one for 1753-4 but Sudell didn't start his apprenticeship until 1758 according to page 673 of Grimwade's book on London smiths. Sudell isn't likely to have put the jug to assay.
The image of the mark is a little difficult to make out and, at first sight, Grimwade's publication doesn't seem to show one like it which was definitely being used in 1753-4 but perhaps someone can see it better than I.
Your idea of the reason for the initials on the legs is probably the right one.
Mike
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[Granmaa]

Are you sure it isn't SM? The mark could be one of those from the lost register.

Miles
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