www.925-1000.com

. Bit of a sneaky one this quizz. ANSWER (or more questions ? ) Lion Passant is a Newcastle punch , makers mark is almost certainly that of Langlands & Robertson. These andiron tongs appear to have been made, at least partially using old Georgian teaspoons, in the Arts & Crafts period by eit...

You are on the right track ! Particularly the "converted "

. Bought recently by my wife as part of a job lot , these Andiron Tongs have slim feather edged arms with curled tops and clover-leaf bowls. Not quite what you'd expect with the marks on the arms ! What date are the Tongs and whose marks are do they carry ? https://www.925-1000.com/pics/Ximg.jpg htt...

The mark ( Roman Capitals) in the posting above is Thomas Tookey's spoonmakers mark of 30 October 1773 ( Grimwade No 2944) An example of his later mark (Stylised Script) , again as spoonmaker, of 24 March 1779 ( Grimwade No 2949) can be seen at http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=...

Back to the Drawing Board for me then !

Well, it purports to be Georgian period, even to the family marriage type owners initials . But as we are not allowed to see the assay and makers marks (not fair !) , I can only conclude that from style and bright-cutting as it can't be much earlier than 1770 it's later ! If it's a recent fake, it s...

I've always associated these scratched marks as pawnbrokers references !

Thanks Trevor, yes that's another possibility.

Another, rather unlikely one, is that it was made for a specific person, and "never exposed for sale " . Which exempts it from assay .

Prior to his sole marks Thomas Moore was in partnership with a John Moore of Abbotts Bromley in Staffordshire. As Moore's name is given last, it can be presumed that he was the junior of the two partners. The joint mark of John Bourne and Thomas Moore III of 26 June 1770 as smallworkers https://www....

The joint mark of John Bourne and Thomas Moore III of 26 June 1770 as smallworkers



on a buckle of around 1772

Please see also viewtopic.php?f=48&t=52825

.

The maker (or rather makers) was the partnership of John Bourne and Thomas Moore III. Below is their first joint mark, registered 26th June 1770 as smallworkers, (Grimwade No 1188). This was followed by two marks as bucklemakers on 8th February 1775 (Grimwade p.392) https://www.925-1000.com/pics/Xim...

Hopefully to hatch another evil plot !

It's almost certainly the mark of Thomas Wallis II, applied when he was standing upside down !

Yes, I am asking for the maker and also why no assay mark.
I know (hopefully !) the answers and am putting it up just as challenge to readers .
It's an interesting piece .

I'm afraid that the maker was not Thomas Meriton,
Clive

There are references in Jackson. Try p.533 for Edinburgh, where the sterling standard was imposed in 1720, " although in practice the the old standard was continued until 1759" , when the thistle mark was introduced. The Scots were, and still are, a of rather independent minds, and provinc...

An enquiry from a friend for a photo of the T ? mark on the frame, which is a repeat of the one on the studded chape, prompted my wife to admit that mark had helped her. Now she tells me ! So here it is . Sorry for poor quality https://www.925-1000.com/pics/Ximg.jpg Mind you, my admiration for Trevo...

Our illustrious moderator Trevor has very courteous and not to claimed victory on this site, but quickly came to the right answer after only a few moments on Sunday. He and my wife are obviously brighter than the rest of us ! Not remembering that most people have never seen a stock buckle, one clue ...

I recently bought a stock buckle with no assay marks, although it is almost certainly English, from the last quarter of the Eighteen Century. - Stock buckles were used to secure an elaborate cravat at the back of a gentleman's neck. https://www.925-1000.com/pics/Ximg.jpg https://www.925-1000.com/pic...

Great !
Now we need to know whose widow she was, and hope he was one of the silver-smithing Bateman family !

As Abraham Ardesoif was described as a Silversmith when appearing at the PCC to validate the obviously unwitnessed Will of of Master Gunner Stephen Demar Ardesoif a connection is extremely likely with our Stephen Ardesoif (Grimwade p.425 ). My speculation is that Susannah Bateman Ardesoif, the widow...