A large German silver model of a cock pheasant, Firma Neresheimer, Hanau, circa 1902

The importer's mark J.G.P struck on this model was one of three entered at the London Assay Office on 29 March 1901 by John George Piddington (24 January 1869 – 1 April 1952) as head of John George Smith & Co., proprietors of the Continental Daily Parcels Express of Gracechurch Street, London, and Dover, Kent.
John George Piddington was born John George Smith at Dover on 24 January 1869, his father, also John George Smith (1823-1895) being at the time a Custom House agent. On 26 April 1900 the younger Smith, then living at 87 Sloane Street, London, changed his name by deed Poll to John James Piddington. (St. James's Gazette, London, Wednesday, 2 May 1900, p. 2c) Piddington was the maiden name of his mother, Elizabeth Susanna (1831-1879), daughter of John Piddington (1803-1891), a former silk mercer who became one of the partners in the Continental Daily Parcels Express.
The company was a large importer of silver of a decorative nature from Europe, until 1939. Their clients included the great Hanau firm of Nersheimer as well as other German manufacturers such as Simon Rosenau from the spa town of Bad Kissingen. Bad Kissingen  a 'Weltbad' in Bavaria whose attractions for the rich and social elites included a lot more than  healing water provided a healthy market for the purchase of luxury goods such as this pheasant.