London leopard's head crowned until London leopard's head uncrowned present. London lion head erased. Birmingham anchor present. Birmingham bicentennial commemorative Sheffield crown Sheffield Tudor rose present. Common Silverplate Hallmarks Some items are silver-plated, which means they are crafted from a base metal and then covered in a thin layer of pure silver.
Other Silver Hallmarks for Metal Content There are a few other hallmarks you may encounter that indicate the metal content of a piece: "Nickel silver" or "German silver" indicate an item that is not made of silver at all but is silver in color. This is slightly purer than sterling silver. Matching Silver Maker's Marks to Manufacturers In many, but not all cases, silver manufacturers stamped their wares with maker's marks.
Both sites offer photographs and extensive information about specific manufactures of silverplate and sterling silver. It's important to note that many manufacturers made both sterling and silver-plated items. A single silver company could have used many different variations throughout the years, which means you can also use these marks to help date the piece. Dating Antique Silver Using Marks Many pieces also feature a patent date stamp next to the maker's mark and silver content mark.
You will see patent date indicated in several different ways, including the following: "Patent" followed by a year "Pat. Get Important Clues From Silver Markings and Their Meanings Silver hallmarks are some of the most important antique identification marks you can study.
Understanding Markings on Jewelry. By Kate Miller-Wilson. By Kristin McCarthy. Unique Pocket Watches on Necklace Chains.
By Crystal Schwanke. How to Find the Value of Antique Silver. Antique Flatware Patterns. Antique Identification Marks. Antiques Roadshow Scandal. By Brandi Rhoades. Art Deco Furniture Collection. AA AZ. BA BZ. CA CZ. DA DZ. EA EZ. FA FZ. GA GZ. HA HZ. IA IZ. JA JM. JN KZ. LA LZ. MA OZ. PA QZ. RA RZ. SA SZ. TA UZ. VA VZ. WA ZZ. In America, articles marked sterling must contain a minimum of parts silver for every parts of material. Expressed another way, items must be This ratio is called the "sterling standard" and has been used in the US since the mids.
By far the vast majority of qualifying items made in the US ca. Many vintage marks, but far from all, include the name of the manufacturer. Very rarely are qualifying pieces of American silver from those years marked only Rarer still, are American marks which include sterling and together without a company name.
This doesn't mean all pieces marked sterling or sterling silver old. But it is a general rule that virtually all pieces marked or sterling are modern. The globalization of commerce has prompted nations to use the same units of weight, measure and standards to increase trade. Since then, almost all silver of that quality sold among EC member countries has the standard mark.
New silver marked is also acceptable in the US because that is also the US standard. In fact the vast majority of mass produced silver reproductions today, whether made in Thailand, India, England, Europe or America, now include in the mark. With the standard mark, a piece of silver can virtually be sold world wide with the same mark.
The use of , however, does not preclude the use of sterling. Since , more and more reproductions are including both and sterling. A piece with both marks meets the requirements of both the EC and US, two huge markets. A typical English hallmark ca. These symbols may be placed in any order. They include:. It has been represented by the lion passant looking ahead since Typical pre British hallmark. A fifth mark, not shown, is a profile of the ruling king or queen. A typical hallmark on silver made in England for either export or sale in England.
The control mark, a set of scales, was adopted in The scales mark certifies the acceptance of a treaty in which nations agreed to recognize each others hallmarks. Pieces with this mark can be exported from England to any country which has signed the same treaty.
The standard mark can now be expressed numerically, or millesimally, as The lion passant is no longer required but may be used in addition to the numeric mark. Pieces for sale in England, as well as for export, must also have an English assay mark. Beginning in , neither date marks nor the lion passant were required on silver made and sold in England. Date marks are now optional; the standard mark was replaced by Pieces for export must include the convention hallmark, a scale.
Typical hallmarks on silver which may be freely traded among all nations agreeing to or signing the convention, or treaty, regulating hallmarks.
These marks are accepted in Europe, England and the United States. To stay competitive with the EC nations, England has recently made several important changes to its hallmarking laws. The most significant change has been dropping the mandatory use of the passant lion as a standard mark.
Beginning in , England agreed the millesimal expression of the standard mark, , would be accepted. Mandatory use of the date letter was also dropped in Date letters are now optional in British hallmarks. England has also agreed to accept standard marks on silver imported into England from any nation that signs a treaty, or convention, guaranteeing strict testing of silver content.
These so-called convention hallmarks consist of a registered maker's mark and either two or three other marks: a control mark, a standard mark and, if the piece was made in England, an assay mark.
The control symbol used in convention hallmarks since is always a scale. The millesimal, or numeric expression of the standard, , must appear in the middle of the scale.
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