Caster with different marks on top and bottom

[Dee]

Hi! I'm new to learning about silver, and just found this interesting caster. Although the top and bottom fit together nicely, and each section is marked with the lion passant, the maker's mark on the top is

R P

separated by a fleur de lis (perhaps R. Peaston, 1756?) The bottom section, which has the Leopard's head crowned and a capital

P

, is marked with a rather Gothic looking

I h

, the latter being in the lower case. a)Is it common for pieces made in different eras to be married together like highboy furniture? b)does anyone recognize the maker's mark on the bottom section? c) The perimeter of the very base shows signs of distress like corrosion. Could a silver plate base have been added to this piece? Thanks for your help


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[Granmaa]

Hello Dee,


What you thought was an Ih on the bottom section is in fact the date letter H for 1763. The maker's mark looks like RP though without the fleur de lis on the mark on the top section. I can't be sure of the maker.
As to whether or not this is a marriage, I'm not sure; but it does seem strange how the decoration is floral on the bottom piece an geometric on top.

Miles
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[dognose]

Hi Dee, It looks to me that makers mark appears to have been struck slightly over the date stamp, as it was a requirement that the makers mark was applied pre assay this would sugest that the makers mark was overstruck possibly by the retailer, which would account for the difference to the top mark.regards Trev.
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