ID Unknown Mark

[Granmaa]

Does anyone recognize this mark found on a pair of late 18th century teaspoons?

Miles

[dognose]

Hi Miles,

I can find nothing in my Scottish or Irish references, but a slim possibility may lie with Jean-Pierre du Port of Guernsey who used a similar mark but without the point at the base. Having said that, the reference that I found it in (Silver in the Channel Islands--Frederick Cohen & Nicholas du Quesne Bird) only has a distorted line drawing of the mark, perhaps taken from from an example of du Port's work.

du Port's working period was 1779-1788.

My scanner is not working at the moment, I'll try to take a photo of the mark tomorrow.

Trev.

[dognose]

Hi Miles,

I found a better image in Richard Mayne's 'Channel Islands Silver'.




Whilst the base of the punch appears to be different, the rest of the punch bears a strong resemblance to your example.

(Sorry about the yellow tone..Artificial light!)

Trev.

[Granmaa]

I think that's the one. Thanks, Trev.

Miles

[dognose]

Hi Miles,

Thinking about this mark some more, you can see that your mark is the earlier one. Your's shows a chip on the base on the left hand side that perhaps developed into a crack. It looks like du Port's answer to this was to file away the pointed part of the base to leave a rounded finish.

Trev.

[Granmaa]

It may be that Maine misattributed this mark. The spoons themselves look more Scottish or Irish.

Miles