English Tea Caddy with Heraldic Lion

[Mat]

Hi all, I have bought this silver tea caddy, made in Sheffield in 1903 by Atkin Brothers. It sas an engraved crowned lion passant holding something like an x ( a saltire? ). My question is now if you think this is an heraldic symbol and if it can be connected to some family / place? Sorry for the bad quality of the photos, but I was in a hurry when I made them! Thank you for any help!
Mat

[mart]

http://books.google.com/books?id=Wp4wAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA229&dq=lion+passant+holding+X+in+right+paw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=iSdmVOXhD8-HsQTf7IDoAQ&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=crowned%20lion%20passant%20holding%20X%20in%20right%20paw&f=false

Have you checked through the Howard family ??  That's the one I found that sounds similar although I really don`t have an idea what a crosslet is and print is too small for me to read all it says !!

[Mat]

Thank you mart, that is a good hint. I found an illustration of their crest in another place, and it is very similar, but the crosslet has the normal form, not that of a saltire. I will continue to search, the book in your link is a very good source! 
Mat

[KC]

Mart, a crosslet is a heraldic symbol in the form/shape of a traditional cross.  A saltire is a diagonal cross or what would appear to be an X (such as seen in the flag of Scotland).

[mart]

Oh !!  Learned something new !!  Thanks KC !!