Would Like Confirmation Please - 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

Would Like Confirmation Please

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Would Like Confirmation Please
chase33 Posts: 362 Registered: Feb 2008	posted 01-23-2011 11:24 AM I purchased these candlesticks yesterday and would like to know if I have correctly read the hallmarks since I am not all that familiar with British silver. They are approximately 8 1/2" tall and have removable bobeches. All four pieces have the same hallmarks. Based on the markings this is my interpretation: 1) they are sterling 2) made in Sheffield 3) made in 1904 4) made by James Dixon and Sons Any confirmation would be greatly appreciated as well as any additional information. Thanks Robert IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 01-23-2011 03:17 PM A handsome pair. And yes, you have read the marks correctly (though, as my main interest is earlier silver, I do not have any reference work to confirm exactly what marks were used by Dixon). [This message has been edited by agphile (edited 01-23-2011).] [This message has been edited by agphile (edited 01-23-2011).] IP: Logged
PhilO Posts: 166 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 01-24-2011 02:23 AM That is Dixons' mark - first registered in 1867. If I were to be really pedantic I would have to say that the only bit you have correct is that the candlesticks are sterling silver. JD&S is the sponsor's mark so we can't be 100% sure that they were made by Dixons. The crown shows that they were assayed, not made, in Sheffield and the date letter shows that they were assayed in either 1904 or 1905, as the assay year did not coincide with the calendar year. IP: Logged
chase33 Posts: 362 Registered: Feb 2008	posted 01-28-2011 08:30 PM Thanks for the replies. Now I have some other questions: What is sponser's mark? Is it the same as a retailer's mark on US silver? And how can I tell if a mark is a sponser's mark or a makers mark? Thanks again Robert IP: Logged
PhilO Posts: 166 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 01-29-2011 02:53 AM Sponsor is the term used for the person / entity held responsible by the Assay Office for the quality of the silver. The sponsor sends the items for assay and, as such, could be the silversmith or the importer of the silver or the end retailer. Under the terms of the Hallmarking Act silver does not have to be hallmarked unless or until it is exposed for sale so the sponsor could be any of the above. Consequently there is no way of knowing 100% certainly whether the sponsor's mark represents the actual maker or not. In the case of your candlesticks Dixons were a large manufacturing silversmithing company so we can be pretty sure that they themselves were the makers. 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