Edinbourgh, 1811, 'JF' - ID Please

[salmoned]

A recent addition, teaspoon 5 3/8", looking for sponsor ID, thanks!





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[dognose]

Hi Salmoned,

The only silversmith that I can make a fit with as the maker of your spoon is James Finlayson of Glasgow.

Finlayson was known to have been working for the period 1807-1838, he served an apprenticeship in Perth under James Cornfute to whom he was indentured in 1790.

He appears to have entered a mark with the Glasgow office in 1807, but at this time there were problems at the Glasgow Assay Office and he registered at Edinburgh in 1811, where he appears to have sent his work until 1819 when the problems at Glasgow were finally resolved.

Unfortunatley the Incorporation of Edinburgh site does not appear to have an example of his mark to confirm this, but I can find no other silversmith, including provincial makers, that it could otherwise be.

Regards Trev.
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[salmoned]

Thanks, Trev! I understand this sort of ID can only be tentative - I wonder if this policy of sending plate from from Glasgow (and other burghs) to Edinburgh for assay/duty (1784 - 1819) would account for the missing town mark on this piece [and others]?
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