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 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.

Silver plate hallmark identification wizard

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. Because the proportion of base metal present cannot be readily assessed, the amount allowed to be added is controlled by law.

Britannia silver Until the end of the seventeenth century, silver coins and silver wares were all required to be made from sterling silver.

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".

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. The standard mark identifies your item as being silver. The mark that indicates sterling silver is called the lion passant. Two variations of this mark have been used throughout history. You may find that your item does not bear the lion passant, but rather the figure of Britannia, indicating that the item is of

Silver plate hallmark identification wizard

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. Other lists include silver-plated wares and pewter. It will not help you to identify other silver. Four or five small pictorial marks usually indicate England as the country of origin. Queen Victoria faces left. Queen Elizabeth faces left. Silver was stamped with a lion for London, a thistle for Edinburgh.

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However, it pays to be aware that deceptions have been attempted in the past, and no doubt will be in the future. The location of the marks varies from item to item, but there are some general rules. Duty was abolished altogether in Rory H. The London town mark. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available. Tea Services. Locate the assay office. The lion passant. A few big companies, such as Oneida , produced large orders of silver plate for hotels in the 19th century. The information in this Italian example is hard to decipher: "IAB" is a signifier for pure sterling, although not all Italian sterling carries that mark. During the Second World War the utility mark was introduced, indicating that the fineness of gold wedding rings had been reduced to 9ct and a weight of less than 2dwts. Many of these pieces will feature an indented mark or a series of marks that can tell you a lot about the item: what it's made of, where it was made, when, and by whom. Qa Rz. The mark that indicates sterling silver is called the lion passant.

Identifying silver plate marks can be a challenge for both seasoned collectors and those who are new to the world of silverware.

Dave W. Having established in which office the item was hallmarked, you can then turn to the tables of date letters to determine when the item was hallmarked. More information on Assay Office marks may be found on www. Aa Az. You may find that your item does not bear the lion passant, but rather the figure of Britannia, indicating that the item is of The images below will help guide you through the most common silver marks you'll find—and how to decipher each of them. Charles L. 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. However, the King passed away in before this order could be carried out. Step 1: Locate The Hallmarks The first step in reading silver hallmarks is to locate the marks on your item. Ba Bd. Quite often on antique silver you may find that a coat of arms has been removed which can be hard to spot but will also have a big impact on the value.