I have a Dixon and son tea set. The large. teapot itself has…

Okay, great! That makes sense.

These are all factory shape numbers used by James Dixon, the maker, to identify that particular pattern, an English Regency revival pattern with pretty friezes of rococo flowers in raised relief, scrolled handles, and gadrooned around the lower half, repeated on the cap and mushroom finial, made of carved ebony.

The hallmarks are exactly as they should be for English sterling.

From left to right,

• the maker's mark JD&S for James Dixon & Sons, one of England's preeminent silversmiths,
• the crown which is the assay mark for Sheffield,
• the lion passant (with one paw raised) which is the English royal guarantee of silver fineness equal to or greater than 925 parts of pure silver for every 1000 parts of metal and,
• the date letter, a lower case "l" for the assay year May 1903 to May 1904.

All English silver is additionally stamped on the 'movable' or 'removable' parts like the covers, which explains the lion passant on the lid you photographed. You should also find a complete set of punches on each of the other pieces just under the rim in each case, though they may be rubbed and hard to see.

As for value, your pretty Edwardian English tea set by James Dixon & Sons would be quite sought after if it ever came up for auction.

This example, for instance, of just the teapot on its own sold for $830.

If you were to sell this set at a top antique auction house, it would fetch in the range of $1600 - $2500.

It therefore has a full retail value (if you were to see if for sale in an antique store) of $5000. This is also the replacement value for insurance purposes.

I do hope this helps!

Please let me know if you wish me to explain or expand on any of the above, I would be glad to.

Best wishes,
Robert.