Letter under the Leopard's head

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fripou
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Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by fripou »

Hello
I just bought a lovely, big and heavy 1825 London butter knife.

There is a M under the Leopard's head.
Can you please tell me what it stands for ?

The silversmith is WS ; I think it is William Sumner I
Can you please confirm?

Thank you very much

Fripou

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silvermakersmarks
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by silvermakersmarks »

I see what you mean about an M and I have to say that I have never seen anything similar before. However I think that it is more likely to be a flaw in the punching (not on the punch itself), although I don't know enough about how the process was actually done to suggest how it might have occurred.

I think that WS is more likely to have been William Schofield, registered as a spoonmaker 10 Nov 1820. William Sumner I is believed to have died in 1807.

Phil
AG2012
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by AG2012 »

Hi,
A flaw in the punching and imagination.
Besides, this cannot be the first example ever recorded (as far as I know).
Regards
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fripou
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by fripou »

Thank you so much for the quick answer and for correction the name of the silversmith !
dognose
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by dognose »

Hi Fripou,

Is it possible to capture a real high definition close-up of the mark?

Trev.
fripou
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by fripou »

Which one?
Leopard?
silversmith.?
dognose
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by dognose »

Hi Fripou,

The Leopard's Head with the possible mystery 'M'.

Many thanks.

Trev.
fripou
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by fripou »

Sorry for the very late reply

here are two pics of the head

what I mistook for an M is actually just a little line....


François


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dognose
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by dognose »

Hi François,

Many thanks for posting the extra images.

It does appear to be a result of a cracked punch, or some debris becoming attached to the punch at the time of striking.

Trev.
fripou
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Re: Letter under the Leopard's head

Post by fripou »

Yes, so it deos !

THank you so much, Trev
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