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Mappin and Webb

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Author	Topic: Mappin and Webb
brwvabell Posts: 30 Registered: Sep 2003	posted 12-15-2007 01:53 AM I have run across more than one Silver Hallmarks site that has me confused. My search of Mappin and Webbs history, most especially, the way that they, (mappin and webb) identified their wares and their contents has really done a number on me! Mappin and Webb with the word London below the name seems to indicate sterling. Mappin and Webb with Ltd below the name indicates plated. My confusion? What does Mappin and Webb with Nothing below the name indicate? Thanks Everyone Brenda IP: Logged
adelapt Posts: 418 Registered: May 2003	posted 12-15-2007 02:33 AM Mappin & Webb in any combination with "Ltd." or "Pty." or similar is only a record of the manufacturer. It certainly could not be sold in the U.K. without the appropriate hallmarks if claimed as silver. If claimed as plated, it need have nothing else (legally). If made out of the U.K. one would expect it to at least have "sterling" or an equivalent marking on it if silver to denote silver content, but I don't know that they ever did manufacture outside of the U.K. So the upshot is - if it doesn't carry proper (U.K.) hallmarks, or an unequivocal mention of "sterling", it ain't! IP: Logged
brwvabell Posts: 30 Registered: Sep 2003	posted 12-15-2007 03:41 AM adelapt That is what I thought too. Last week, I took my mappin and webb tea kettle to my local antiques restorer for a nickel pin (handle) replacement. These folks are british and very familiar with sheffield plate, (Real Sheffield plate) and sterling ware. Offered me XXXX dollars .. on the spot for my kettle. After my head cleared I asked, WHY? History: The kettle is from around 1860 and according to these folks, it is one of the first attempts of mappin and webb to create this kind of holloware after the establishment of Mappin and Webb? According to these folks, Mappin and Webb did not always follow the rules when it came to stamping? To make a Really long story shorter .. I sold the kettle to them, Not for xxxx, I sold it for xxxx (25% more) dollars! THAT is why I asked the question that I did. I just don't understand What Happened? My head is STILL spinning!! Brenda IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 12-15-2007 10:22 AM Since you're in Richmond, I highly recommend stopping by Luxor Vintage Clothing, in Carytown, any time you have silver questions. It may seem an unlikely source, but the owner is one of the most knowledgeable people I know, and always happy to talk silver (disclaimer: he's a good friend for many years). There are plenty of people in Richmond who claim knowledge, relatively few who actually have it -- true in most places, in my experience! Others may know better, but my experience is as adelapt's: if a piece of M&W doesn't have hallmarks, it's not sterling. Their plated wares are considered very high quality, and bring good prices, but they were a major and reputable firm; it seems unlikely they'd play games dodging the assessor. Possibly they could do so if the piece were for export? But even then I think they'd at least use a sterling mark. I'd want to see good proof before I'd bellieve it. But if you're happier with the money than with the kettle, and they're happier with the kettle than the money, who can complain? [This message has been edited by FWG (edited 12-15-2007).] IP: Logged
Silver Lyon Posts: 363 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 12-16-2007 05:31 PM Mappin & Webb were too large to mark anything in an irregular manner. They were in the habit of stamping their name upon items, whether made of sterling silver or electroplate (NEVER Sheffield Plate) in addition to the silver hallmarks that were struck by law upon silver pieces. Their earliest wares are stamped 'Mappin & Co.' up to 1863. From then (1863) until 1898 it is just 'Mappin & Webb' and from 1898 'Mappin & Webb Ltd.' Other stamps such as 'London', 'Sheffield' etc. were placed upon exported pieces in order to give the intended customers even more confidence inthe quality of the items they were buying. Hope this helps! IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 12-16-2007 05:50 PM One tricky thing about English silver from the late 19th and 20th centuries is that of mark placement. Some pieces of sterling hollowware may have the sterling hallmarks up near the rim, while the name of the manufacturer or retailer and place of origin is spelled out in a stamp on the bottom. So, you may turn a piece over and just see "Crichton & Bros. / London" or "Mappin & Webb" and not know it is sterling. If the official hallmarks on the side are buffed out or hidden by a lot of chasing, it is possible to miss them. Just something to be aware of! Brent IP: Logged
brwvabell Posts: 30 Registered: Sep 2003	posted 12-19-2007 02:37 AM quote: Originally posted by Brent: One tricky thing about English silver from the late 19th and 20th centuries is that of mark placement. Some pieces of sterling hollowware may have the sterling hallmarks up near the rim, while the name of the manufacturer or retailer and place of origin is spelled out in a stamp on the bottom. So, you may turn a piece over and just see "Crichton & Bros. / London" or "Mappin & Webb" and not know it is sterling. If the official hallmarks on the side are buffed out or hidden by a lot of chasing, it is possible to miss them. Just something to be aware of! Brent Been away for the last few days. Brent, You are exactly right! I never realized that those "small" marks that were on the inside,(very back edge)of the lid were actually hallmarks!(I always ignored them as being some kind of Really small dents) 8-) I always thought that hallmarks went along with the name stamp. Thank You Brenda IP: Logged

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