Silver plate hallmark identification wizard

Buying or holding on to silver can be a very smart investment decision. However, when you buy rare or antique silver piecesit is important to know that the hallmarks are designed to ensure their age and provenance, minimising the risk of your investment.

Reading silver hallmarks can tell you a lot about your silver item, including the purity, where it was assayed, in whose factory it was produced, and the year in which the item was assayed. This helpful guide will help you get started with reading your hallmarks. The first step in reading silver hallmarks is to locate the marks on your item. The location of the marks varies from item to item, but there are some general rules. For example, the hallmarks on silver flatware are usually located on the back of the piece, on a flat edge. If the hallmark is unclear then you can breathe on it — like you would to produce condensation on a window, and the mark should become a little clearer.

Silver plate hallmark identification wizard

See also the definitions page in this guide for additional information on hallmark components. Note at centre of the image at right the four elements of the hallmark. Detailed image of hallmark far right. Locate the assay office. If your item does not have one of the standard fineness marks, either traditional or numerical, then it is probably silver plate or is from another county. Go no further. The date letter shows the year that assaying was carried out. The date letter example above represents Prior to the date letter varied for every office. After that it became uniform for every city. Since , the date letter has been optional. Most silver and goldsmiths making bespoke pieces will still opt to use the date letter, however for mass produced silver items it saves the importers money to leave it off.

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Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu , a pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, Sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington , history, oddities This makes difficult the research of information for inexperienced people. The objective of this page is to help the visitors of the site in deciphering the marks of their British silverplate. A set of symbols imitating the shape of sterling silver hallmarking. These are "generic marks " used by various silverplate makers. In this case the "S" stands for "Sons".

When it comes to antique silver plate, identifying the hallmarks is essential to determine its age, origin, and maker. English silver plate hallmarks are no exception. These marks are stamped onto the metal to indicate the quality of the silver, and provide a valuable insight into the history of the piece. A hallmark is a mark stamped onto the metal of an item to indicate the quality of the silver. In the case of English silver plate, the marks indicate that the item is made of silver-plated metal, not solid silver. The hallmark also includes the name of the maker, the year the item was made, and the city or town where it was made. English silver plate hallmarks can be divided into two main categories: makers marks and assay marks. Makers marks are the initials or symbols of the silversmith or maker of the item. Assay marks indicate the quality of the silver and the year the item was made.

Silver plate hallmark identification wizard

Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu , a pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, Sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington , history, oddities This is a page of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu , a pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington , history, oddities William Page -Birmingham. Andrew Allison - Glasgow. Albert Cowley Bloxham - London.

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Elkington deleted the "crown" from its mark in FA FZ. Ma Maq. For example, The Gorham company's mark was a row of three emblems: a lion for sterling , an anchor for its base in Rhode Island , and a "G" its initial. On the back of this sterling fork, the lion, anchor, and "G" identify the Gorham company. However, when you buy rare or antique silver pieces , it is important to know that the hallmarks are designed to ensure their age and provenance, minimising the risk of your investment. Gareth J. Related News. The Sheffield town mark. Wa Wh. The number is a common notation for silver in Russia. There is a pocket version that contains similar information to Bradbury.

The marks on the bottom of a piece of silver can be an indication of the age, maker, and origin of the piece. This is a list of American silver marks and solid American silver.

Aa Az. The Goldsmiths' Company Ask-the Library service. The Assay Office at Birmingham has an excellent page describing the anatomy of a hallmark. Faster checkout Save multiple shipping addresses View and track orders and more Create an account. This flatware is made of a blend of silver and base metals and is solid, not plated, but has a much lower silver content than either sterling or coin. Ea Eo. Simone A To help make silver identification easier, we're sharing a visual guide to some of the most common silver marks you can find in the marketplace today. Each year is assigned one letter of the alphabet, and a new cycle starts with a different font. Sauce Boats.