A lion heading to the right might be Gorham.
Scanning posts, someone said the lion passant on British silver can sometimes be reversed in direction--so maybe this really is British.
The markings are all far more finely stamped than what has been shown so far of Gorham, so that leads me back to Britain.
This piece was passed down to me; the relative got it in Britain before 1940, I think--another vote for it being British.
I have not been able to learn what the mark "3413" means.
There has been some speculation this piece was from about 1860's, Birmingham, England.
Can anyone help fine-tune this identification?
Thanks!
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Celtic Cross, Gorham vs. British, 3413?
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Celtic Cross, Gorham vs. British, 3413?
Next time you are acquiring silver, keep this hint in mind about British sterling:
the marks are usually very definite. Most punches are intaglio, and have a decidely three-dimensional character in which the field appears scooped out and the mark or letter(s) stands proud. It is only wear that abrades enough of the silver to give the appearance of a flat-in-the-metal mark.
Even when the marks are incuse - just stamped into the metal - they are usually more firmly struck than the marks on the Gorham piece. If you look at the glossary you will see just how firmly.
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the marks are usually very definite. Most punches are intaglio, and have a decidely three-dimensional character in which the field appears scooped out and the mark or letter(s) stands proud. It is only wear that abrades enough of the silver to give the appearance of a flat-in-the-metal mark.
Even when the marks are incuse - just stamped into the metal - they are usually more firmly struck than the marks on the Gorham piece. If you look at the glossary you will see just how firmly.
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Celtic cross origins
OK--have rather resigned to the Gorham origins due to the collection of marks.
So, the "3413" mark places it in the 1900's?
OUCH! that would ruin the history given of it being from the mid to late 1800's!!
What is a production code?
Would that also indicate where made?
The marks on cross are so much clearer than those shown on the web page as examples of Gorham--the lion so finely detailed, vs the Gorham examples being rather indistinct.
Maybe that was wear over time--although, this cross looks otherwise fairly worn and handled...
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So, the "3413" mark places it in the 1900's?
OUCH! that would ruin the history given of it being from the mid to late 1800's!!
What is a production code?
Would that also indicate where made?
The marks on cross are so much clearer than those shown on the web page as examples of Gorham--the lion so finely detailed, vs the Gorham examples being rather indistinct.
Maybe that was wear over time--although, this cross looks otherwise fairly worn and handled...
.