Comments on Irish Marks

[Argentum2]

Any comments on this set of Irish marks?

[dognose]

Hi Argentum2,

Is it the cartouche shape that is the subject of your request?

If so, see: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 54&p=47515

Trev.

[Argentum2]

The shape of the cartouch is exactly my point. I checked it i Bennett but did not find it which left me wondering. The 1810 date would be exactly right for the item concerned - a dividing spoon by Richard Sawyer.

Is there any explanation for the change of shape?

[dognose]

The engrailed top punch appears to make its appearance in 1809. I suspect that sometime around the 1809-10 year change they experimented with alternative punch shapes and opted for the engrailed version to be used in the long term.

I hadn't thought about it before, but to my knowledge, the Duty mark punch was supplied by London (the other punches were made locally). These must have been supplied with a large edge to them, to enable the Dublin die sinker to create required cartouche shape.

Trev.