What is this dish and makers mark???

[Trugmaker]

I have trawled a good Makers Marks book with 1800 marks but cannot find this one. Nor do I know what it is. The handle is a fish, so one would assume caviar - or pate. Would love to know. Anyone have an educated guess??

[greenacres]

It's some kind of Stafforshire. There are so many types of crown marks. I'm trying to pin it down.

[greenacres]

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1600&bih=805&tbm=isch&tbnid=MyIRA_ukFVfN0M:&imgrefurl=http://www.cakestandheaven.com/cakestandheaven/prod_1383970-Regal-English-China-Vintage-3-Tier-Cake-Stand-with-Bowl-Top.html&docid=9NFvy-E7kCTrBM&imgurl=https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_ckLU4dRJfhA/TcAhFfW-TCI/AAAAAAAAQjg/LDBBnCaEZy0/025.JPG&w=1600&h=1200&ei=o3rwT8y4EMTm0QGdmZH7Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1207&vpy=312&dur=9235&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=101&ty=139&sig=103831250280259051336&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=201&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0,i:116  I'm not sure if this is the pattern.

[Trugmaker]

So pleased you are struggling as well    Believe me I have spent a long time trawling the net to no avail, very frustrating as I KNOW this is not c**p. How can a nice piece with a clear(ish) mark not be listed?? And, there are two stamps - one seen here, and one embossed, but to me undecipherable. Plus the the other signed mark in gold that could be a date, but I believe it is much older than the numerals suggest, thus I strongly believe it is an edition number.
Anyway, whatever, I do so appreciate finding this site, which I will visit often as I frequently aquire items that elude me. I could write a book on the items I have found and sold for infinitely way below there value!
The only area I am knowledgeable about is Paperweights, so any questions, fire away!

[mart]

Please post the other mark as well !!  Need to see both !!

[Trugmaker]

Sorry, I thought I had uploaded it - new here 

[wendy177]

Hi Trugmaker Beautiful well done piece the most elaborate one I have seen in years -  but not for caviar    What you have is called a  sardine box This may help in your search for a maker,  Prices are high for these little gems and in my opinion a keeper!
Here are some examples : http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=antique+sardine+box

[mart]

Wendy,, I am curious,, note the even crazing on the bottom,, very regular,, not what I would expect from age alone !! And there is none that I can see on the rest of the piece !!  Ideas ??

[wendy177]

Good question mart the wear on the fish, lid edges & base edges shows wear for a piece with age (gold paint loss), would need to see closer photos of the outside and inside bottom ,sides & lid.

[mart]

I saw the wear pattern but thats all I see that indicates age !! Slight paint loss !! Would be odd to not find crazing in other places as well !! The very even patterning of the crackle makes me think chemically done rather than from age !!

[Trugmaker]

Have added a couple of pictures. To enlighten anyone, this definitely old, not repo for certain.
Hope these pictures help. Problem is, I have already put this on eBay, wrongly described as a pate dish. Don't know what to do as it has a couple of bids and I cannot alter the description? Thank you for the info so far.

[KC]

If you observe....pate dishes and sardine dishes are widely different in value!  With the sardine being more prized.
Do you have a reserve on your item?
Can you post the listing?

[mart]

Thanks for the inside pic !! That is much more consistant with age !! I believe you can add to but just not alter the description !!  Try that !!  Unless they changed that !!

[KC]

That's true Mart....and it will show up under the sardine dish category and thus bump the bidding if the sardine people are looking!!!

[mart]

I would love to see the listing,, I could always ask a question and relate it to the sardine box !! Bidders do look at that stuff and it might help the price !!