Posts: 333
Registered: Aug 2008

posted 02-12-2021 11:51 AM            

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Have two spoons with unknown marks I'm trying to identify. One is marked RM 3 times, and the other is marked SMH 3 times. The RM spoon is the one on the left with the upturned handle. I have exhausted my limited library and an internet search doesn't bring up anything that I can uncover. Guessing these date to 1780's - 1790's or so?? Don't know if they are American but hoping so...

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posted 02-12-2021 06:00 PM            

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The RM mark bears a resemblance to the mark of Richard Morton of Sheffield. That would be worth investigating as he worked prior to Sheffield having an assay office.

From Wax Antiques website:

"Richard Morton was one of the few Sheffield manufacturers who produced silverware prior to the establishment of the Sheffield Assay Office. He is recorded as a working silversmith in 1768 in partnership with William Clayton. His mark “RM” was entered on 16th September 1773, possibly in partnership with John Winter. A fortnight later the two marks “R.M” and “RM & Co” were entered by Richard Morton, Thomas Warris, John Winter, Samuel Roberts, John Elam, Thomas Settle, John Eyre and Nathaniel Smith. It is on record that this firm was not to produce silver candlesticks, that branch of the trade being reserved for John Winter. There may well have been covenants as to non-production of certain other items as all of the partners except Morton and Warris also comprised the partnership of Samuel Roberts & Co. who registered their mark on the same day. The Assay Office day-books show that John Winter & Co. produced buckles as well as their main product of candlesticks, the latter being the sole output of their successors John Parsons & Co. Samuel Roberts & Co's main output was silver handles, but they too produced candlesticks. Richard Morton & Co. manufactured a wide range of products, but noticeably not candlesticks, buckles or silver handles."

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posted 02-13-2021 12:41 PM            

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ahwt - thank you for the info on Richard Morton. His mark is very similar and I found another website that lists a few variations of it - but nothing that is an exact match - primarily not having the indents on the punch. I had always thought that English items would have at least 2 marks, so didn't even look there. Have never come across any English pieces with just one mark. I thought these might be Channel Islands made and bought the book - but they were not in there.
The application and location of 3 initial marks on these seems unusual to my untrained eye (haven't seen it before) and it was a guess that they came from the same general area.

Tks again...

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posted 03-10-2021 10:05 PM            

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SMH was made by the famous silversmith Shaking My Head, father of the even more famous silversmith Shaking My Damn Head, who used the mark SMDH.

(Kidding, kidding! In case that wasn't obvious. Apologies.)

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posted 02-25-2022 07:34 AM            

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Came across this spoon recently sold at auction that was listed as being by Ephriam Brasher but I believe it is by Elias Boudinot. WEV's site says that he worked in Antigua West Indies and then came to the US. The triple makers stamp at the bottom of the stem is unique, and wonder if anyone would have a book on this area -- or know of a reference website that lists silversmiths that worked in the West Indies. Perhaps mine could have been made there or by smiths that came from that area. Any info appreciated.

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