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Unidentified maker's mark

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Author	Topic: Unidentified maker's mark
dandan Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-09-2004 06:04 PM Does anyone know which silversmith used the initials JM inside a classic shield as part of a hallmark on a pair of fish servers? The rest of the hallmark is the Lion Passant, the crown emblem for Sheffield, the date letter X (upper case) which dates them to 1890-1891. There is no duty mark. It has been suggested to me that it might be the initials for Mappin Bros but this isn't certain. Thanks in anticipation.... IP: Logged
Waylander Posts: 131 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-10-2004 10:13 AM I'll confess to being the person who suggested Mapping Bros, but only because it was the closest I could get with the information at hand. I stand to be corrected Cheers Waylander IP: Logged
PhilO Posts: 166 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 09-10-2004 04:01 PM No, I don't think it's Mappin Bros. I believe that the mark Waylander is thinking of is JNM in Gothic script in a shield for John Newton Mappin. That said, I have not come across JM in a shield either, so we're no closer I'm afraid. Phil IP: Logged
Patrick Vyvyan Posts: 640 Registered: May 2003	posted 09-10-2004 04:58 PM Just a thought: I've seen "J & J M LD" for J & J Maxfield of Sheffield in a typical shield on Edwardian silver. Perhaps this is an earlier Maxfield mark? IP: Logged
dandan Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-10-2004 06:56 PM Any suggestions are welcome - thanks anyway... IP: Logged
dandan Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-10-2004 06:59 PM Great to get another lead - I will investigate - thanks. IP: Logged
dandan Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-11-2004 06:37 PM Have found another lead in a dictionary of marks with two possible makers, Joseph Minden or John Manger - these seem to be the only ones with the right shaped shield. I'm starting another thread to see if anyone knows anything about them. IP: Logged
Patrick Street Posts: 24 Registered: Sep 2003	posted 09-12-2004 03:25 AM The reference The Sheffield Assay Office Register (1911) states on page 59 that the mark of JM in a shield was entered on 17 November 1890 by Christopher Johnson & Co, Western Works, Portobello, Sheffield. The same firm entered another mark on 4 February 1903 namely, C.J&Co. I notice that the hallmark of JM in a shield for Joseph Minden was not entered until 14 July 1898. IP: Logged
dandan Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2004	posted 09-12-2004 07:49 AM Thanks so much for the information - do you think think this confirms the makers of both the silver handles and the silver plate blades as Christopher Johnson & Co? This seems logical as they are definitely the named makers of the blades but I didn't realise the same companies made silver and silver plate. Also, I wonder why they chose JM when there is no M in their name? Joseph Minden seems to be out of the picture now if you say his mark wasn't registered until 1898, because I am quite certain of the date 1890-1891. Was it possible for silversmiths to use marks before registering them? Thank you again - any more thoughts on my queries gratefully received. IP: Logged
Silver Lyon Posts: 363 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 10-22-2004 12:25 PM A tiny piece of extra information for you. The reason for the different marks is that in Sheffield, makers were not permitted to have the same marks for both their silver and silver-plated manufacturers - thus Elkington & Co. perhaps the best known use FE on the silver (Frederick Elkington) but E&Co on the plated wares - Each of the big manufacturers follows this rule. JM is probably the initials of one of the partners in CJ&Co. IP: Logged

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