Butter Knife with a Beaver mark...??? - SMP Silver Salon Forums

SM Publications

Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.

SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate.

Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look.

How to Post Photos

Want to be a Moderator?

SMP Silver Salon Forums
tline

British / Irish Sterling
tline3

Butter Knife with a Beaver mark...???

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Butter Knife with a Beaver mark...???
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 03-12-2004 12:44 PM Ok Callie, I think I may have found one for ya... This is a two piece Master Butter Knife where the blade was made separate from the handle and then attached. The blade is about 2 and a half to 3 inches long, in the standard form, with the handle being about 4 inches long with a pointed drop, small and very narrow shoulders and a fiddle end turning down with a tipped underside. There are four marks, that are on the underside of the fiddle portion of the handle, which it seems to me are on the handle upside down from what I would have expected, when I hold the blade to the left... The Marks are RKO in a rectangle, a Lion Pasant in a square with rounded corners, a Beaver in a two pointed Shield Cartouche, and a "King or Queen" with a prominent Crown facing right in an oval cartouche.... Yea I know Pictures.... Lisa says she has misplaced the Digital Camera ( I think it got left at the University and walked off, but we'll see) so I cannot get her to produce any at this time (I cannot see well enough to take my self any anyway), but may get some soon... I like the Knife, so any info will be of help, and I will list it as "Unknown Maker" until I can get better books on Canadian Marks... unless you can tell me... Thanks "Smaug" IP: Logged
Arg(um)entum Posts: 304 Registered: Apr 2002	posted 03-12-2004 05:33 PM I'll give this one a try. Based on the Unitts' book, this may be Richard Kestell Oliver, Toronto, known 1843-1860. The Unitts call him a working silversmith and show a mark 'RKO' + Lion facing left. The marks you are describing could indicate that Hendery & Leslie in Montreal produced merchandise for him. However, I cannot find his mark in the lists shown as having been in the possession of that firm on its acquisition by Birks. BTW, is the 'two pointed shield cartouche' the type that looks like a supine crescent moon? Which way (left,right) do the lion, beaver and head face ? IP: Logged
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 03-12-2004 06:26 PM both lion and beaver Face left, royal head faces right... IP: Logged
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 03-12-2004 06:28 PM hard to say a supine cresent moon but close IP: Logged
Arg(um)entum Posts: 304 Registered: Apr 2002	posted 03-12-2004 09:47 PM It all fits. And I just found the mark as you describe it in Langdon's 1968 pocket guide. So you can change it from 'unknown maker" to "made by/for R.K. Oliver". I do recall reading (but not very clearly) that the combination of lion, beaver and sovereign indicate a Hendery & Leslie product. Maybe Callie and her silver society can shed more light on this in the fullness of time? IP: Logged
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 03-14-2004 02:13 PM Thanks Arg(um)entun... IP: Logged
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 06-28-2004 11:10 PM OK got pictures... IP: Logged
Arg(um)entum Posts: 304 Registered: Apr 2002	posted 08-18-2004 03:46 AM That's the one - the one shown by Langdon. This particular beaver seems to be in use only for Ontario (mainly Toronto) based maker/dealers. The exact combination of marks is used for several that I think were smallish establishments. The same sequence but with a different "duty" mark was used for one larger one. Many of them, including the last mentioned, did get merchandise made by Hendery & Leslie. It's what I think is the case here, but I really need to do some more reading on the subject now that you have prompted me again. [This message has been edited by Arg(um)entum (edited 08-18-2004).] IP: Logged

All times are ET	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a

^1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

^2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

^3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.

| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver