Yearletter with a cross?

[Vantlicht]

It seems to be quite normal spoons, but I never saw a yearletter with a cross behind. Each single spoon has this strange cross. I am curious why? Does somebody knows why there is a cross?

[oel]

Dutch year letter Q+ for 1875

Until 1931 the assayers were personally liable for mistakes in the result of their work. Until 1931 date letters were considered to be their responsibility marks. When in the course of a year the assayer of a certain office was succeeded by another one, as a consequence the date letters of that office were provided with a distinguishing mark. Usually it was a dot, but commas, crosses and stars also occurred. There are a few date letters bearing two dots; the result of two changes of assayer within a single year.


AK above 47 for Adrianus Kuijlenburg Pz, registered in Schoonhoven 1862 till he died on 15-5-1882. His widow, continued the shop until she died in 1893.

Peter.
Source: Netherlands'Responsibility marks from 1797 part 1. Zilversmeden van de Stad Schoonhoven by S. A. C Begeer, E. Hak & L. Linhart-du Cloux

[Vantlicht]

Thanks Peter. I never heart this.