www.925-1000.com

Could this be the personage? - Smale, Sir John (1805-1882) Knight, Chief Justice of Hong Kong

Thank you for that - I suspected, but wasn't sure. The only remaining question concerns who specifically was entitled to this crest circa 1843.

From an 1830 book: Smale or Smalley, {Paddington, Midd.} sable, a cross, voided, between four crescents, argent - Crest, on a chapeau gules turned up ermine a unicorn, couchant, (another, sejant) argent.

This appears to be the best fit I've found, but where is Paddington, Midd.?

Names I've found associated with 'an Unicorn couchant' - Wilmot, Clayton, Rest, Donne (Doon), and 'an unicorn couchant, tail erect argent' – Doom or Bonne.

[On a cap of maintenance] an unicorn couchant. That's what I figure describes this crest. I'm hopeful someone can further characterize it and perhaps suggest a family or individual to fit. Note the 1843 date of assay. Thanks all! http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/salmoned/UnicornA.jpg http://i2.p...

With that diet mark, I'd guess this piece is German-made.

1894, not 1884.

This isn't my/our area of expertise, but I did a 3 minute check on eBay and found the marking was for M & B Mining.

The salver may be heavy, but what is the gauge in the center area? A heavy salver likely carries most of it's mass in the edge decoration and the center may not be so thick, allowing the finish -work to leave an impression on the reverse.

I agree. However, you have 6 of these and this is the best [and only] photo of the mark you could present? ;)

Of course, it's pattern 3965. ;)

That is indeed the shell mark for 1896.

If only we could put together a set of marks photos - we probably couldn't amass a complete set, but even a partial set could prove useful. On the other hand, maybe an artistic member could draw their own version of a complete set and post it - lol.

I'd say it looks like a 'B', 'D', 'E' or 'L'. 'U' doesn't appear to fit what's left of the letter.

I would venture to guess the 1915 'u' is most consistent with this mark.

An unusual find! Thanks for sharing, even if I never come across one of his articles.

Kenilworth (1887) by International Silver.

I suppose that "illegal to sell them" concept only applies in the UK (the OP hasn't indicated a home location, as far as I see). The last thing I would consider doing is sending them into the Hall for possible destruction or disfiguring.

Fair enough, you see a central 'A', I see no such thing and no reason to assume the orientation of the mark in the side-by-side presentation is correct. Rather, I see a two-letter mark standing on end as most likely here.

You are very liberal in your attribution here. I doubt you could with certainty assign a single feature in common between the two, however. In fingerprinting, we'd say,"Zero point commonality - No match".