Gibbons or Gorham?

[Granmaa]

Another either or question for this 1735 rat-tail table spoon. Grimwade has two possibilites, but I know nothing about either of them.

Miles


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[MCB]

Hello Miles,

The mark looks to me as though it was originally a straight sided rectangle.
Gibbons' mark shown at Grimwade 1321 has four incurved sides and a pellet half way down between the initials. Heal has him as a goldsmith. Grimwade has him working in 1729. He could have been working in 1735.
Gorham's mark of 1728 at Grimwade 1324 is a straight sided rectangle. The pellet is again halfway down between the initials. Gorham entered other marks as late as 1757 so was working in 1735. Grimwade says Gorham made spoons.
John Giles mark at Grimwade 1326 registered in 1733 is a straight sided rectangle with the pellet at the base between the initials. Grimwade has nothing further to say of him so whether he was working in 1735 isn't known although you may agree it is likely. The placement of the pellet matches the one on the spoon.
For what it's worth Giles shades it in my view.

Regards,
Mike
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[Granmaa]

Thanks for your reply, Mike.
It's a wonder to me how, if they needed to, the assay masters at the time could have traced a maker when the marks are so similar.

Miles
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[MCB]

Hello again Miles,

In theory there should of course be enough differentiation between the makers' marks for the Office to be able to say who put the item to assay; in practice they quite often didn't stand a chance particularly when you bear in mind so many makers didn't bother to re-register a new punch which would often be substantially different from the original.
On the other hand no-one said it should be easy.
Is Giles growing on you as a possibility for the spoon?

Regards,
Mike
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[Granmaa]

I'm really not sure. What looks like a pellet in my photo must be a speck of dust or something, because after looking at and feeling the mark with a toothpick, I can't find anything. For the time being I shall leave my records blank in maker column.

Miles
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