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thylacine · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Tasmania

This is my first post and attempt to identify the hallmarks on any piece of silverware.
The spoon has the following hallmarks from left to right.
A maker's mark as shown in the sketch below, an anchor, a lion, the head of King George, and the capital letter T.
From this I deduce that it is a Birmingham assay mark, sterling silver, made in 1791.
Since I have made several unsuccessful attempts to photograph the hallmarks I have drawn the maker's mark as best as I can using an 8x magnifying glass.
Can anyone please suggest who the maker might be?
Any assistance most appreciated.

dognose · co-admin Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 2023 Location: England

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

What I suspect is happening here is that you have a partial maker's mark that you are confusing with the date mark.

The 'A' you have drawn would be a good match for 1824, a date more fitting with the Kings pattern.

Take another look at that 'T'. Can you see anything either side of it?

Trev.

thylacine · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Tasmania

G'day Trev,
Thank you for your prompt response. Looking carefully I can see there is nothing either side of the T which has a 'serif' font and the head, presumably George III? is facing to the right. With a further look at the maker's hallmark the drawing is reasonably accurate although the mark has slightly more flourish. Could it be a capital A with a J? That is after looking at the hallmark more closely so I may be starting to see things!

thylacine · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Tasmania

I have scanned the spoon and the hallmarks are reasonably visable.
http://f.imagehost.org/view/0865/Georgian_spoon_001.jpg
http://f.imagehost.org/0865/Georgian_spoon_001.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements--Remember to use the Preview Button )

dognose · co-admin Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 2023 Location: England

Hi,

I wonder if that 'J' you can see is, maybe part of the cartouche of the date mark?

Can anyone else give an opinion?

Trev.

2209patrick · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

Agree with Trev that the date mark is on the left. The "J" you see is part of the cartouche as Trev has said.
The A for 1824 seems like a good possibility.

Believe the mark on the far right is the maker's mark.
Definitely see a letter before the T, but can't make it out.

Pat.

Traden · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Clacton on sea UK

Could it be RT for robert thornton possibly

MCB · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:24 am Post subject:

Hello,
Check out these sites:
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk
http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk
It looks as though Robert Thornton registered his mark in 1866, too late to be the maker of your 1824 spoon.
The Birmingham Assay Office site shows three makers with the initials RT, two very much earlier than 1824 and one later; none are very likely to be the maker of the spoon.This leaves the possibility of an unregistered punch and an unknown maker or the thought that the first initial of the mark isn't an R.
Mike