A late 18^th century Maltese silver covered sugar bowl, circa 1780 by Guiseppe Maniscalco di Andrea

De Rohan period (1775-97), of inverted baluster form with overhanging rim raised on three cast hoof legs with serrated junction. The double domed pull off lid with surmounted by an attached stylised acorn finial. The body and the lid with swirling fluted decoration. Marked underneath with maker's mark GM (Farrugia 13), M crowned (Farrugia 23K) and a lozenge crowned (Farrugia 23a).

Height – 12 cm / 4.75 inches

Weight – 203 grams / 6.53 ozt

“It is amazing that all the early maker’s marks recorded, and there are about twenty-one of them, bear exactly the same date of licensing(?), 1715. One can be sure that at least some these early silversmiths had worked as silversmiths before that date The writer has encountered a silver basin which bears the assay mark of G.M. Gregorio Carafa (1680-1690)accompanied by that of the maker who was Vincenzo Menville, (1715). This means that that this maker had been working as a silversmith a long time before his name is first mentioned in Lupi Xerri’s list. Another discrepancy may also be noticed in the list of silversmiths and date of license available. Maniscalco Domenico’s date of license is put down as 1715. Giuseppe Maniscalco di Domenico, evidently his son, also has his date of license 1715 which is highly improbable.” Farrugia, J., (1992). Antique Maltese Domestic Silver, Valetta: Said International. P.25.