Silver hallmarks birmingham makers marks

A hallmark is an official mark indicating a standard of purity. They are used in marking both gold and silver items assayed.

And my sincerest "thanks" for your previous help. Thank You. Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall of Sheffield. One of the largest manufacturers of both sterling and silverplated wares in the last half of the c. It is NOT surprising to find their maker's mark alongside Birmingham marks - they also registered marks at Chester and London as well as in Sheffield.

Silver hallmarks birmingham makers marks

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Their motives for Birmingham and Chester, I suggest, were simply practical - to get the maximum number of pieces hallmarked in the minimum amount of time when the Sheffield assay office was busy.

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A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other optional markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece. In some countries, the testing of silver objects and marking of purity is controlled by a national assayer's office. Hallmarks are applied with a hammer and punch, a process that leaves sharp edges and spurs of metal. Therefore, hallmarking is generally done before the piece goes for its final polishing. The hallmark for sterling silver varies from nation to nation, often using distinctive historic symbols, although Dutch and UK Assay offices no longer strike their traditional hallmarks exclusively in their own territories and undertake assay in other countries using marks that are the same as those used domestically. One of the most highly structured hallmarking systems in the world is that of the United Kingdom, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland , and Ireland. These five nations have, historically, provided a wealth of information about a piece through their series of applied punches. Since the year , the French assay mark for items made of solid silver is the head of the goddess Minerva in profile. The French have two standards for silver purity or fineness.

Silver hallmarks birmingham makers marks

The history of hallmarking in Britain began in the year in the reign of King Edward the first. It is thus lengthy, and also surprisingly complicated. This short introduction cannot cover all the intricacies; it is intended to be a simple introduction for those with little or no knowledge of the history and practices of hallmarking but are curious about the significance of marks on a piece of silver. Such items will usually be from the nineteenth or early twentieth century, or possibly the eighteenth century, so the emphasis is on helping to identify hallmarks from these periods, including marks that are not hallmarks, and giving some pointers for further research. To receive a hallmark an item must be made of silver of a specified fineness, and must pass a test at an assay office to prove this before it is marked. There are some exceptions to this rule, generally items too small or delicate to bear the hallmarks, such as items of jewellery, although if they are described as silver they must be of legal fineness. British hallmarks on silver from the period considered usually comprise four or five individual marks. This mark shows that the fineness of the metal meets a specified legal standard. Pure silver is too soft for objects subject to daily wear so it is alloyed with a base metal, usually copper, to make it more durable This dilutes the precious metal and makes the mixture less valuable.

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SM P ublications. View your shopping cart. Accept Read More. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post. Finally there was the Import Mark which was stamped on foreign silver. Hallmarks also serve as a special indication of genuineness or good quality. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies do not store any personal information. Peter Lowe. Next post: The Tools and Techniques of the Silversmith. Want to be a Moderator? Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall of Sheffield. Thank You.

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Click here to Register for a Free password 2. Username or Email. Want to be a Moderator? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Waylander IP: Logged. SM P ublications. Typically a set of British Hallmarks would run in order from left to right to show: Standard Mark, which indicates the purity, so Sterling is. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A hallmark is an official mark indicating a standard of purity. How to Post Photos. Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall of Sheffield. With London, there was perception especially in the Colonies that 'London made' goods were of better quality than those made elsewhere, so there was an 'added value' to pieces hallmarked in London even if made in a huge factory in Sheffield. Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.