Reed & Barton Sulgrave Manor Candelabra - Sterling??

[maxbernat]

I found a pair of these candelabras in a consignment shop. They are marked Reed & Barton 5115 STERLING, with the 1950 year drum mark inside each base. The base is hollow and the walls are very thick, about 3 or 4 mm. No other marks anywhere on the candelabra. Did R&B make this pattern in sterling?

[silverly]

I cannot give you a definitive answer. However, if this candelabra were mine, I would be satisfied that it is sterling just because of the marking and because I know that it was not unusual for silver companies to manufacture pieces from the same pattern in both sterling and silverplate.

[JLDoggett]

Not to create an issue with Silverly, but that sterling mark looks a little wonky. If the sterling stamp were centered a line below the Reed&Barton mark I would be much more confident. However the maker's mark and quality stamp is applied aften the piece is soldered together and before finishing. A company as well respected for quality as Reed & Barton would have done a much better job of stamping their quality mark.

If someohe brought these into my shop I would be certain to test them before saying they were as marked.

[maxbernat]

Thanks all. I spoke with someone at Reed & Barton today and, while she was not certain, she was pretty darn sure the company never made a Sulgrave Manor candelabra in sterling. She also was pretty certain that the 5115 number definitively identified the piece as silver plate. I agree with JLDoggett that I have never seen a Reed & Barton Sterling mark that was not perfectly centered and below the name. In addition, while my photo didn't show it, the detail on this piece was shoddy; slight pattern flaws, roughness on the edges...the kinds of things you just don't see in a top brand like R&B. It also has a telltale patina that I recognize as the heavy silver plate coming out of India - kind of a satiny finish.

All in all, I'd conclude that this is a fake through and through.