Hallmark discrepancy

[fayeB]

When I bought this card case, I was given some information about the maker and time period. I decided to double check it (just for fun)....unfortunately I came up with something different than what I had been told. Can anyone confirm what this says? Also, does anyone know why the anchor is sideways?
Thanks


http://i50.tinypic.com/2vkb0b7.jpg

[carlislepaul]

Hi

I am not an expert but on this site under Birmingham makers you will see C.C is Colen Cheshire registered in 1865.
http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham2.html#M
he is recorded as a card case maker.
I read the date as Birmingham 1893/4 though some books show this letter t in an oval. I have seen other instances of the anchor sideways, it is just how it was struck.

Regards

Paul

[2209patrick]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Agree with C.H. Cheshire and 1893/94.
In 1907 C.H. Cheshire entered his mark again at Birmingham.
This mark had cut-corners.



Pat.

[Granmaa]

A couple of other posts on sideways anchors.

viewtopic.php?t=16299&highlight=sideways
viewtopic.php?t=13748&highlight=sideways

[agphile]

The three assay office marks are in a stub. There will have been a range of stubs for different sizes and types of silverware. I have always understood that variations in the orientation of the individual marks in a stub were a safeguard against fakery. If the marks from a smaller item were cut out and inserted in, say, the bottom of a larger coffee or teapot, it would be immediately obvious to the expert that the marks were wrong.

I am no expert on Birmingham silver of this period, but this does seem to me more likely as an explanation than simply the whim of the punch cutter.

[kenwstr]

Ummm,

I'm a complete newby but I thought sterling was solid, not plated like this item. Is this incorrect?

Regards,
Ken

[agphile]

Now I'm puzzled. I don't see any reference to the card case being silverplated. If it is, the marks are a naughty forgery, but have you a reason for your suspicion?

[kenwstr]

In the image the silver plate appears to be worn through at the top to expose a brassy coloured base metal. Looks a bit like nickle silver. It looks typical of worn plating to me.

Seems obvious to me but I'm a complete novice so maybe I'm wrong as no one else has mentioned it.


Regards,
Ken

[agphile]

I see. I took that as the effect of the lighting, and it would be unusual to come across a forgery like this. However, the owner should be able to judge what it looks like "in the flesh" so to speak.

[dognose]

Hi Ken,

I wonder if what you see is the remains of a gilt interior?

Trev.

[kenwstr]

Trev,
You could well be correct. Looking again, the hallmark stamp backgrounds are golden and this should be the least worn areas. So gold over silver does seem more probable.

Regards,
Ken