Is This Item Masonic?
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:02 pm
Hello,
I've just acquired a very unusual chain and my research and observations appear below. Does anyone have a view on what the actual object is? For some reason it also doesn't appear to me to be complete, as if the lowest bar has medallions hanging from it, why not all the other bars? The item is made up of both silver and other metals but as the Birmingham hallmark appears on most bars I've posted in this forum rather than the jewellery one.
Thankyou for any help,
Greg.
A very unusual ( and I believe masonic ) chatelaine / watch chain / dress chain. 42cm long and weighing 91g. Twenty three bar-type segments listing consecutive dates from 1929 — 1951. Starting from the bottom of the chain two gold metal medallions hang from the lowest bar ( 1929 ). To the reverse of these gold metal medallions, one is inscribed 1949 with a punch mark D and the other 1950, also with a punch mark D. Both of these lower gold metal medallions have the letters HN on their fronts. The first thirteen bars from the bottom are all fully hallmarked with the maker’s mark WD&S for W M Dowler & Sons ( 1898-1940 ), who were noted for making military ornaments, and with an anchor for Birmingham. Each of the lower thirteen bars are also hallmarked with consecutive date letters, starting with D for 1928 and up to Q for 1940 ( I don't think there was not an I in this hallmarking sequence ). The next ten bars are then again gold coloured metal and I cannot be sure what metal they are made of , although most of these gold coloured metal bars have the letter D punched on their reverse. The gold coloured metal bars start at the date 1942 and end at 1951. On all of the reverses of all the bars is inscribed 296318, apart from the top three bars. At the top of the chain is a classic hallmarked T-bar, with B.Bs also marked at one end.
Looks quite impressive stretched out full length.
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled3.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled5.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled4.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled2.jpg
I've just acquired a very unusual chain and my research and observations appear below. Does anyone have a view on what the actual object is? For some reason it also doesn't appear to me to be complete, as if the lowest bar has medallions hanging from it, why not all the other bars? The item is made up of both silver and other metals but as the Birmingham hallmark appears on most bars I've posted in this forum rather than the jewellery one.
Thankyou for any help,
Greg.
A very unusual ( and I believe masonic ) chatelaine / watch chain / dress chain. 42cm long and weighing 91g. Twenty three bar-type segments listing consecutive dates from 1929 — 1951. Starting from the bottom of the chain two gold metal medallions hang from the lowest bar ( 1929 ). To the reverse of these gold metal medallions, one is inscribed 1949 with a punch mark D and the other 1950, also with a punch mark D. Both of these lower gold metal medallions have the letters HN on their fronts. The first thirteen bars from the bottom are all fully hallmarked with the maker’s mark WD&S for W M Dowler & Sons ( 1898-1940 ), who were noted for making military ornaments, and with an anchor for Birmingham. Each of the lower thirteen bars are also hallmarked with consecutive date letters, starting with D for 1928 and up to Q for 1940 ( I don't think there was not an I in this hallmarking sequence ). The next ten bars are then again gold coloured metal and I cannot be sure what metal they are made of , although most of these gold coloured metal bars have the letter D punched on their reverse. The gold coloured metal bars start at the date 1942 and end at 1951. On all of the reverses of all the bars is inscribed 296318, apart from the top three bars. At the top of the chain is a classic hallmarked T-bar, with B.Bs also marked at one end.
Looks quite impressive stretched out full length.
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled3.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled5.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled4.jpg
http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii6 ... itled2.jpg