London spoons, maker mark overstruck?

[Juke]

Hi!

I have also five spoons made in London in 1811-12. I have found out in the forums maker marks list that they are by S. Godbehere, E. Wigan & J. Bult.

I am wondering why an earlier maker mark is overstruck by this maker mark. You can see that the first struck maker mark is W? in an oval frame. If anybody has an idea why this has been done and who could the maker W? be I would be interested to know it.





Regards,
Juhana
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[Granmaa]

Hi Juhana,

It could very well be William Seaman; he was a prolofic spoonmaker from this period.



Have a look at these threads on overstriking:

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3453&highlight=overstriking
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3549&highlight=overstriking

Also, here is an extract from John Fallon's Marks of London goldsmiths and silversmiths 1837-1914

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the maker's mark became an increasingly misleading symbol. Generally it was representative of the firm of manufacture and not of the individual silversmith. Sometimes this anomaly was stretched still further by the retailer stamping his own registered mark on the silverware under the guise of it being a maker's mark. For example in the 1780's and 90's pieces of domestic silver manufactured in the Bateman workshops were frequently bought and retailed by George Giles with the maker' mark of Hester Bateman overstruck with that of George Giles.

Miles
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[Juke]

Thanks Miles for this one also!

Regards,
Juhana
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[dognose]

It would be interesting to know if in fact that the Godbehere, Wigan and Bult partnership were ever working goldsmiths, so many of their pieces are overstruck, one could imagine occasional overstriking during peaks of trade but there seems too many examples for this, I think more likely they were in the banking business, this would certainly involve dealing in plate, pawnbroking as well as regular banking.
As far as Samuel Godbehere is concerned, Grimwade records no record of apprenticeship or freedom, and after his partners demise James Bult opened his own bank.
It would be interesting to hear other members views. regards Trev.
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[Granmaa]

I can't say I've ever seen a piece of theirs which hasn't been overstruck. If anyone has one, I'd like to see it.

Miles
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[admin]

Went through my files and the only G,W & B found was overstruck on a Peter & Ann Bateman spoon. However, I did find two pieces of G&W alone that were not overstrikes. Perhaps the inclusion of Bult in the partnership changed the focus of the business.
Regards, Tom


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[admin]

Stumbled over this piece recently. It seems GW&B had there fingers in a lot of pies, but manufacturing was still one of them (at least until 1803).

Regards, Tom
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