Marks and manufacturers there are a number of makers of silver both sterling and silverplate that use the rogers name. Andrews cross, the town mark used by the edinburgh assay office on imported items, the y in the shield with waisted sides is the date letter for the hallmarking year. Pocketwatch 101 materials used in pocketwatch cases. British sterling english hallmarks, irish hallmarks. The silver and gold of most countries also bears a standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal used. Many marks used by firms with established reputations were bought by a successor. Identifying the hallmarks on an old pocket watch is a great way to learn more about the piece in question. These four marks the sponsors mark, the standard mark, the town mark, and the date letterare the parts of a traditional british hallmark, and all four parts should be present in a valid hallmark. Waltham pocket watch case identification nawcc forums. Many pocket knife manufacturers used a full name like shrade stamped in the blade. Between 1880 and 1933 the legal swiss hallmarks for silver were either a bear rampant, a bear standing on its hind legs, or a grouse. Sponsors marks in watch cases vintage watch straps.
The same letters were used for gold, which has been marked in birmingham since 1824, but with a background of a square with cut corners. Hallmarks, housemarks, and makers marks novices and professionals alike confuse these types of marks. Everything you need to know about identifying silver. Specialist publications help explain different makers or sponsors marks, with sir charles jacksons english goldsmiths and their marks, first published in 1905 and revised in 1989, still the most authoritative work on the subject. If there is an accompanying mark as shown on my first photo below this would show that the case is 14k solid gold. Early american silver makers marks, names and dates. Dublin silversmiths makers marks this section on the makers marks of ireland is organized alphabetically by the first letter in the mark.
To navigate the site, it is easiest to use the green menu bar at the top of the screen. The marks used by british and english silver hallmarking system are. A single mark usually indicates that the piece of silver was made in america, although there are some irish and scottish pieces with just the maker. The lion passant or walking lion, the mark for sterling silver. The first five chapters talk about the different methods of examining silver, various types of silver and silver plating, ways silver items are made, and how to identify and date pieces by style and period. The trademark in your photo is one of the correct marks for the waltham watch case co. Dial names, except in the case of american watches, are often of little use in identifying the maker. Silver, gold and platinum hallmarks and hallmarking in. The inclusion of initial stamps alongside the hallmarks means that most makers can also be identified. Pdf jacksons silver and gold marks full online video. It should not be assumed that makers mark only silver must be of channel island origin or that the lack of other marks implies that a piece was exported to the islands. The pocket edition of jacksons hallmarks contains 1,000 makers marks listed alphabetically by mark.
A good guidebook will show many makers marks and variations of identifying marks companies used in different eras. Town mark, corresponding to the mark of the assay office that has verified the piece. The intaglio 900 mark is found on work dating from the turn of the century until the 1920s. No formal assay process exists in america so that silver thimbles usually have a size mark, a makers mark and stg or sterling to indicate the fineness of the silver.
Marks with letters are listed in alphabetical order. It is regularly updated as we find and photograph new examples of silver hallmarks and makers marks. More information on maker marks and silversmith works and biography in reported at the links page. A full introduction explains how to understand the marks and distinguish between silver, plate, and electroplate, followed by a look at all the marks of the major british, irish, and american assay guilds. Jewelry hallmarks gold and silver costume jewelry makers. Many new comers to the world of collecting silver often become confused with the large variety of markings on silver items. Russian, italian, english, american, french, silver plate, electroplate silver, old sheffield plate and much more. If a mark illustrated here matches one you are researching, there is a possibility another may have made it. Many companies manufacturing small hardware items, such as hand tools and tableware, were in existence for a long period of time, using the same mark or marks. Marks such as fine silver, 800, or 875 often indicate a swiss origin from before 1880 when hallmarking of watch cases was made law.
I most commonly hear the word hallmark when describing a housemark or makers mark. The marking is usually in the top but may sometimes be found on the side or even inside the rim. Silver was also a commonlyused case material, and some beautiful examples of silver cases may still be found today. Often overlooked due to their intentionally hidden location and diminutive size, the etchings found inscribed on a piece of modern or vintage jewelry offer a window into the who, what, and where of the piece and are well worth a serious look. The key mark to look for is the common control mark. The rest of the book is dedicated to international silver hallmarks.
Most often these marks are found stamped into the metal of the main plate under the balance wheel, or in older watches on the main plate under the dial. These are marks that are struck to commemorate a special event, and are applied as the last mark in the hallmark sequence. How to identify the brand of a vintage pocket knife our. Town mark, corresponding to the mark of the uk assay office that has verified the piece. Silver makers marks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This is the hallmarks site map 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. My second photo shows the waltham mark only, and i have been assured by knowledgeable people here that this is a 10k solid gold case. Whenever there is a new commemorative mark, we will be sure to tell you about it. A letter f in an oval cartouche was stamped alongside the regular hallmarks, the makers mark being that of the british importing firm sponsors mark. Since the 16th century there have been various methods of. Between 1784 and 1890 five marks are struck on silver crafted and hallmarked in the uk. There are some exception for small articles and detachable parts of silverware like tea and coffee pot which were occasionally only partially hallmarked. British hallmarks and sponsors marks in watch cases. Some of the assay office marks of member countries of the convention are illustrated below.
Opinel, a french pocket knife maker, uses a hand with a finger pointing at a crown as a hallmark logo. The markings on the watch case are as follows 34006, lion, anchor, h, c. All about antique silver with international hallmarks. The punch mark of a standing bear for the higher silver standard was replaced by a duck. The required use of import marks to be stamped on foreign made silver was instituted in 1867.
The sp mark is shown here alongside edinburgh import marks in a swiss made wristwatch. This post is an attempt to create a list, history, and database that will make this situation a little less confusing. The bows of pocket watches were to be stamped with two bears, as shown by the red arrows in the second picture. Thimbles thus usually only have a fineness mark and a makers mark and sometimes a size number. This is the standard for silver, identifying a silver item that is at least 92. 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. Swiss hallmarks and other marks found in watch cases. The quality of the original pictures varies greatly and i have been obliged to use some pictures which are not as good. Other articles and marks can be found in silver and other metals identification guide and in the article on marks, and enter silver in the filter. Some marks look like a circle, square, bird or animal shape, etc. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The 1738 plate offences act the 1738 act, an act for the better preventing frauds and abuses in gold and silver wares,4 usually called the plate offences act, was the beginning of current hallmarking practice.
Any mark indicating a higher silver content, such as 950, would also qualify as sterling. These are termed pseudomarks and although they are deliberate variations of original english silver hallmarks, many have been officially registered or at least documented and are genuine makers marks. The aim of this web site is to provide an aid in the identification of british and irish silversmiths from their makers or sponsors marks. The standard mark this mark shows that the fineness of the metal meets a specified legal standard. The sponsors mark jr in a diamond shield, the registered mark of john rotherham. The most recent mark was for the queens diamond jubilee, as pictured. Native american marks this nicely done resource has quite a few images to help you identify maker marks of the american southwest. Hallmarking of watches incorporation of goldsmiths.
This compact, pocketsized guide from millers shows how to decipher this system, and to read the history behind the marks. Sep 04, 2012 ilver makers marks app website and antique silver markings photographed and catalogued from english sterling silver by silver2treasure. Used primarily in during the meiji period 18681912 and for a short period after. London silver makers marks this section lists the hallmarks used by a number of london silversmiths. The shield design around the assay office mark may vary according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. There are lots of examples of british hallmarks on silver on my british hallmarks examples page, but lets make a start with the hallmarks in the picture here, just to get a feel for what a set of british hallmarks looks like the first thing to note is that there are four distinct marks. The date letters below show the background shape for silver. See more ideas about makers mark, pottery marks and vintage costumes. There may be some variations in backgrounds during the late 19th century, especially on watch cases.
The marks are the best indication of the actual movement manufacturer. Marks in watch cases hallmarks, sponsors marks, etc. Hallmarks of german silver of 20th century from 1888. American silversmiths william eric voss has created an excellent compilation of makers marks on american silver that is now archived in the library of congress. Prior to 1870 silver was scarce and so coins were melted down and the thimbles made of this silver were marked coin. 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. The study of jewelry maker s marks is a fascinating subject, steeped in history, culture, and art. The following number marks indicate silver purity in a percentage of ths.
This pocket edition contains complete cycles of silver marks for all the important assay offices, with variations shown for gold, platinum, britannia standard, import marks, etc. In 1933 the fineness of the swiss higher silver standard was raised to 925. The new collector should focus first on trying to identify whether the item is in fact a silver item. How to read hallmarks a guide to reading hallmarks on. Antiquehorology trademark search a resource to look up watch maker marks. British hallmarks on silver from the period considered usually comprise four or five individual marks. London makers marks menu this page of london makers marks is organized alphabetically by the first letter in the mark.
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