Recent purchase and new (to this site) makers mark...

[DrBlingDaddy]

I just bought an antique crucifix pendant and was able to find the maker. His name is William John Pellow. He was registered to the Chester Assay Office. Here is his mark:


Here is the pendant. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can wear it!




One question... When did Chester start using "STERLING"?

[silvermakersmarks]

Chester never used "sterling". This is a mark applied by either the manufacturer, importer or retailer in order to make it acceptable / saleable in places where "sterling" is the marking norm.

As there is no hallmark WJP may just be a maker with the same initials as Pellow or this was produced specifically for export. Whichever it is you should note that the word "sterling" is not an independent guarantee of silver content in the same way as a British hallmark.

Phil

[AG2012]

Hi,
Items marked ``Sterling`` are most likely not British made.
For example, so called Sweetheart brooches of British Army corps and regiments, popular during WWI and WWII, are still a mystery to me.
Some of them are fully hallmarked by British assay offices, but most of them are marked ``Sterling`` or ``Sterling silver` ` or ``Silver``.
They must have been made overseas (Canada, Australia, South Africa).
Examples: King's Royal Rifle Corps fully hallmarked in Birmingham 1916.
RAF badge with ``Sterling`` only. King's crown indicates it was made before 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned.
Regards

[dognose]

Besides the possibility of an export piece, weight may be a factor. There was no legal requirement for an item such as this to be hallmarked at all if below the specified legal weight. Manufacturers opted for optional marking to enhance their products and achieve higher prices.

Arthur Westwood, Assay Master at Birmingham stated in 1922 that 75% of the items Hallmarked at Birmingham were exempt from Hallmarking requirements.

Wilfred Cripps stated in 1883 " Manufacturers are now obliged to get all sorts of insignificant articles stamped that are legally exempt from liability to marking, owing to their small weight; for example, the corners of pocket-books and purses, articles which twenty years ago nobody would have thought of Hallmarking, now command a better price for being so guaranteed".

The advantage taken by the trade of optional marking is afforded by the figures returned from 1880 to 1890; 4,750,000 oz. of gold and silver wares were voluntarily marked and 6,600,000 oz. were compulsorily marked (Horol.Jor., 1890, p.142.)

Trev.

[DrBlingDaddy]

Wow! Very good info here. Thanks, all!