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Coming by here a little late, so just a quick comment. This spoon in question is much like one of my own favorite spoons, a typical ca.1830 fiddle pattern, in my case 15 cm long and 13 gm in weight, yes, quite thin stock, and quite typical of much American coin silver flatware of the time, made for ...

Sorry, I have no knowledge of Tiffany patterns. However, the style of spoon (Old English) and the apparent hand engraving indicates that it is a replica of patterns typical of about 1790 or so. I'm guessing it could be a non-cataloged item, or perhaps the engraving is after-market.

SS

Hi, and welcome to the forum. One of the better explanations of spoon shape with time is the article, "More Notes On Spoon Types", by Robert Alan Green in the April, 1970 edition (Vol. 3, No. 4) of Silver-Rama, pages 2-5. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that this article is available on-l...

The marks on your spoons appear to be pseudo-hallmarks. Here are some links to a couple of threads addressing this: http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19489&p=44645&hilit=pseudo+hallmarks#p44645" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://925-1000.com/forum...

For whatever reason, the PB/AB and PB/AB/WB stamps seem to be struck off-axis more often than not, from what I've seen. Almost rare to see on deeply and fully struck. I wonder why.

SS

The deal is for every oz. I take from their scrap I replace it with 1.1oz. of my scrap. I have managed to save a few very nice pieces this way. Great idea, since I don't know I could afford to pay today's scrap prices for good pieces. I may see whether my local coin dealer would be interested in su...

I apologize that I have nothing to offer in a constructive sense, only useless, hand-wringing, "ain't it awful" commentary. I've always collected on a tight budget with an eye out for the wolf at the door, and so concentrated mainly on flatware, snagging most items off on-line auctions, an...

Just noticed this old forum thread recently revived that also addresses the subject:

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1151" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SS

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Nice tea set, I'm envious. I was happy just to have a spoon marked by Fredrick. I can't answer your questions directly, but recommend obtaining the following text if you haven't already (appears that you may well have done so). "Silver in the Golden State" cov...

Given the parabolic move recently in the price of silver, I thought I might resuscitate this old thread. Once again I wonder and worry about the amount of fine old silver that will get tossed "into the pot" in this excursion. I fear there is much collectible silver owned by heirs who are u...

Great looking spoon, especially the engraving. The engraving impresses me as very typically American circa 1800, which might help to point to Stephen Hardy as the maker. His S<pellet>H mark as shown in Ensko is not rendered precisely enough to definitely confirm or deny this attribution, but it is ...

Thank you, silverly, for your update on the retailer.

SS

It's been four years and still no solution, so I thought I'd bump this one back to the top of the list. The original full-length photo now overflows the revised screen format, so here's a re-sized shot: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/nihontochicken/StarSpn1-1.jpg?t=1284146572 Still think Pro...

Sterling silver is not an inherently springy material. The reason bow type tongs have spring is because the metal was work hardened, either by hammer or press. If your tongs have lost their spring, it is probably because the bow has been heated above the metal recrystallization temperature (many hun...

Hi, Jim, and welcome to the forum. The makers of your item were the very prolific firm of Eley, Fearn and Chawner (all Williams). I believe the heart-shaped mark to which you refer was likely a tally mark, that is, a personal mark left by the journeyman who fashioned the part such that he would be c...

It's your mirror frame and your taste, but I think most collectors prefer not to remove the black patina from the "nooks and crannies" in convoluted silver pieces. This is why there is a general warning against using a dip cleaner like Tarn-X on these items. I'd suggest using warm water wi...

Congratulations on your find! The spoon is likely from an as yet unidentified American bulk flatware manufacturer in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. The pseudo-hallmarks are indicative of coin silver (nominally .900 fine, but there was much variance). Much of this so-marked flatware is...

Thanks, Trev! Indeed a lot of new information to me. I haven't encountered the term "Memorialist" before. It's a giggle to see the Scot Provincial smiths wriggle through the law by intentionally producing below standard silver. Gives me ever more warm feelings for the old bandit Jamieson. ...

On his own as from 1812, William Jamieson is known to taken three other apprentices, William Gray in 1814, John Stewart in 1816 and Andrew Sutherland at a date unknown. William Jamieson died in 1841 ... Trev, is there any historical note as to how Mr. Jamieson managed to escaped the attention of th...

Thank you, Cheryl, seems to be a fit. I didn't find a matching mark scanning here or in Rainwater or Ensko, but after your tip I read the Rainwater text indicating a match, also indicating that the company made solid silver items. Perhaps the moderators might want to add this mark to this Forum's li...