Norwegian cufflinks

[stoughton]

Can anyone identify the maker and his dates and location for the cufflinks in the URL. These are a family heirloom, and I would guess they might date from 1900


http://www.filcr.com/photos/63910350

[stoughton]

Apologies. If you cannot read the marks on the photos, they are SJR, and on the other end 9ct, with the ct being underlined.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Your images are not viewable.

www.tinypic.com is recommended. Embedded images get a far greater response than just just posting links.

Trev.

[stoughton]

Thanks for the tip. I am trying to get the system to work. These photo sharing sites are new to me.

[stoughton]

Here are links to photos. The color of the metal looks different in various kinds of light.

http://i45.tinypic.com/20gb5h1.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2lco3.jpg

I have not been able to embed the photos in the text or to convert the URL to a clickable link.

As stated before, the maker's mark is SJR and the gold specification is 9ct.

Dognose, thanks for our help. Eventually I will probably learn to master tinypic and the discussion forum protocol.

[dognose]

Hi Stoughton,

You're getting there.



Let's hope we can find an answer for you.

Regards Trev.

[dognose]

It is of English manufacture. Stephen J. Rose entered his first mark at the Chester Assay Office on the 12th March 1921. Described as a Jeweller and Medallist, he had workshops at 2, Ridgmount Street, Tottenham Court Road, London.

Trev.

[stoughton]

Trev,

Is an actual image of the Stephen J. Rose mark on file in an accessible data base, or are just the letters known? I guess for small items, the marks must omit the assay office and the date. Also the format of the fineness mark seems unusual.

The cuff links must have been commissioned for officers uniforms, since it does not seem that this design would have been executed for the retail trade. Also something of that sort would not have been created as a one-off item. The date that SJR was active mean that I will have to revise my theory how they came to my Norwegian-American grandfather.

Thanks for your help. This is like peeling an onion, where the answer to one mystery just poses another.

Regards
John

[dognose]

Hi John,

The date given was for the registration at the Chester Assay Office, they apparently registered at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1887. This firm also registered for the first time at the Glasgow and Edinburgh assay offices as late as 1952.

You can access details of the 'SJR' mark at: http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham5.html#M and at: http://www.925-1000.com/bx_sjRose_B.html

As for the lack of a full set of hallmarks on this pair, that is nothing unusual as they would be under the weight for compulsory hallmarking. When full marking is found on such pieces, then it is voluntary, and usually applied to enhance its retail value and saleability.

Regards, Trev.

[stoughton]

Thanks again.

The Chester 1921 seems to be the right one. The exact shape of the cartouche surrounding the initials is a bit different on the other examples.

Regards
John