www.925-1000.com

Agreed

Waylander

I agree - they look like typical pseudo-marks

Waylander
Moderator

To expand on Miles' answer, the journeymen were often employed as "piecemakers" - i.e. they were paid per piece they completed. Therefore, it was important that the actual maker also placed a tally mark on the piece to ascertain how much they were entitled to.

Waylander
Moderator
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I agree with Miles - your knife is particularly early. It may be worth sharing a photo or two of it with the Sheffield Assay Office for their records.

Regards

Waylander
Moderator

Looks like sterling silver, marked as imported into England (London) in 1931/1932. No clues as to the original country of origin though.

Waylander
Moderator

I don't think it is 1729 - there does not appear to be a duty mark, and the leopard is uncrowned. Post 1890 therefore, although the date letter is not that clear.

Waylander
Moderator
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Quaker Silver Co Inc, in business circa 1926 and purchased by Gorham 1959

Waylander

That is a mark used by E G Webster (in its various incantations, as EG Webster Maufacturing Co, E G Webster & Bros and E G Webster & Son (1859-1928)).

Waylander

If it is 1804 Birmingham, it MUST have a Duty Mark - it is not small enough to be exempt, and has been assayed. Go to this site - http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - at the top you will see an example of Birmingham marks for 1801 - your piece sh...

Agreed

Waylander

Purely from experience, IMHO the "policy" of major makers shipping stuff to Chester to be assayed (to avoid delays elsewhere) did not start until much later, and Chester was still a provincial assay office in 1727. Hand mirrors, being a sign of some wealth, are indeed a mightly unusual piece for thi...

Hi Jay

The trouble with dating your piece to 1804 is that it doesn't appear to have been stamped with a duty mark. However, the shape of the 1804 "f" is very distinctive - perhaps 1904. Mike should be able to determine the date once you email him your marks.

Regards

Waylander

Looks like the mark of James Barclay Hennell.

Regards

Waylander
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English sterling silver, assayed in Birmingham in 1977 (has optional Silver Jubilee mark), Maker is not known to me.

Waylander

It is a Dutch piece, assayed in 1864. No clue as to the maker though.

Thanks

Waylander
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#1, Wallace - probably R Wallace & Sons Mfg Co, established in 1871.

Waylander

The mark of Elmore Silver Co Inc, while not identical, is very similar - a lion standing with paws on an "E" (although not italicised).

Waylander
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Don't know the pattern but the maker is D & J Wellby Ltd, makers circa 1850 onwards, known for fine copies of earlier pieces.

Regards

Waylander
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Yes, it was common for retailer to mark pieces they sold with their own mark. Carrington was a retailer (and part time smith) : "William Carrington was born in Connecticut, served his apprenticeship as a jeweller and silversmith in New York, where he formed a life-long friendship with Charles T...

A nice piece Miles. From the obvious wearing of the mark (as an example of the general use of the spoon) I cannot see how it would be possible that the feathering could have been present on the original - I'm suspecting a latter change (and one of good quality from the photo) but would also be grate...