Help with silver plate hallmarks...

[rynegold]

Found this stamped on the side of an unusual Sheffield pen knife:


Anyone?? age? maker?

regards, mitch

[rynegold]

Just as a follow up...this is the thread that started this conversation.
(invalid link)
These (several) people, seem to think its "ok" to call these silverplate marks "faux" marks... as if they are there to fool/imitate silversmith's marks from the same era...

I say they are legitimate marks in their own right and need no defense.

Opinions?

[dognose]

Hi Mitch,

The link you provided, is password sensitive, you can see it, but we cannot.

I can't help with the maker, but as to whether such marks are there to imitate official hallmarks, well, I would say yes they were. Why strike four individual marks and not just one? Why use four different shaped cartouches?

I don't believe the manufacturer ever meant to mislead the customer, I think it was more of a case that the item would appear to the owner's friends as solid silver.

Regards Trev.