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Here is a tea spoon which I think may be Austrian. There is a head with no numbers around it and GD with a cross between the letters and a sun beneath. Does anyone know something about it? Miles http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/ausf.jpg http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/au...

Here is a little rat-tail teaspoon (11.5cm). I'd say it was made in the early 18th century. It has one mark: IH with a crown above and what looks like a four leaf clover below. It's possible that the mark is HI but unlikely. The name Jean Harache has been suggested to me. Can anyone confirm this or ...

This is London 1880 and is, therefore, just William Comyns: his sons joined in 1888. The lion's head erased and the Britannia mark both indicate Britannia standard silver. I believe that the absence of any city mark means that it was made in London, as the other assay towns were forced to include th...

Here is a particularly nice enamelled teaspoon with white beads around the back edge of the bowl. I believe it is Norwegian c.1910, however, I can't find out who the maker is. The mark looks like a T or a hammer through an M. Miles http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/norf.jpg http://i64.p...

Dear Susanne, One possibility is William Comyns and Sons who made a huge variety of items. I've included a mark of his from 1893 and a picture of him outside his showroom/workshop. Do you think this mark could be the same as yours? Miles http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/e371-5.jpg http...

I took this troublesome spoon to a silver expert, and he assures me that it was made c. 1740 by James Wilks who, apparently, was particularly fond of shell backs.

Miles

The end
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I have found a particularly good internet site on the meaning of Coats of Arms and crests.

http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm

These are the meanings it gives for the elements of your crest:

Naked arm = Industriousness
Arrow = Readiness for battle
Wreath = Victory

Jackson has a maker from Edinburgh called James McKenzie (p.552) whose mark resembles your description; it says that his mark was found on a tea-set 1825-26. What is the piece you have?

Miles

You're quite right, it doesn't look English. Plus, I've never heard of simply marking a spoon with the London assay mark and nothing else. What's more, this has a few differences to the crowned leopard, most notably the cartouche. However, I've not heard of any other country using such a mark; very ...

Following the reply from dmay on another umbrella post, it is now clear to me that the mark is by Kendall and sons: a very famous umbrella manufacturer.

Miles
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It looks like William Mortimer's mark (Jackson's p.554). What item was this mark from, and could we see a picture of it?

Miles

Is it possible that the unidentified mark is a poorly struck seated lady Hibernia? It seems like the most likely partner to the harped crown. I've turned the picture 90 degrees anti-clockwise and blackened the lines that looked certain. The bottom line could be the hem of her dress, and there is a h...

Polo_Fer, These are from Birmingham and made in 1910 by Elkington & Co Ltd. The arm is holding an arrow; the picture is, I believe, referred to as a crest: a smaller version of a coat of arms used where space is limited. I wouldn't put too much thought into what it means; crests were mainly used...

Thanks Gerryl,

You're telling me! Where did you manage to find it out?

Miles

Here is what I presume to be a scent bottle; it has a silver top which was assayed in Birmingham 1889. However, the maker's mark, JR&S, is unknown to me. Miles http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/xfhd.jpg http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/granmaa/xfhdgh.jpg

I was just trying to think what CCC could stand for; you said the medal was for atheletics, and that was the most likely possibility my feeble imagination could concoct. It was either that or Curtain Climbing Champion.

Miles

Jadine,

The date mark looks like Birmingham 1894-95. I don't know the maker yet but will post it on Thursday unless someone else does. The CCC on the front could stand for Child's Cross Country; just a guess.

Miles

This cartouche seems odd because concaved cartouches are quite rare; I can't think of another London maker from this period who used one. If anyone can, do tell. It also looks uneven to me: the bottom line protrudes over the G, and the left side actually brushes the side of the G; plus the top of th...

However, the cartouche around the GB does look rather strange. A second opinion needed.

Dear Fernando,

Usually on teaspoons of this period when there's no city mark and a round duty mark, it means they're from London. This one seems to be 1796 and made by George Burrows. You're quite right: the duty mark is George III.

Miles