Birmingham Tray - Help Needed

[Emmajayne1]

Hi, I could use some help with this silver tray please.

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It's obviously Birmingham 1913, but the makers mark I find strange. Stylistically it appears to be Henry Matthews, but it appears that the makers marks may have been purposely removed? I can't see that this was done by polishing alone as the other marks are still crisp. There is an additional tiny mark that I've not come across before, best described as 4 overlapping circles with a number 3 in the centre. Does anyone have any advice on the significance? Many thanks in advance.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Please post some larger viewable images.

Trev.

[Emmajayne1]

Hoping these are better?

[Emmajayne1]

Please can you confirm if these images are ok? Thanks

[oel]

To me images look OK but I have no answers

Best,

Oel.

[Emmajayne1]

Thanks, anywhere else I should try to identify the odd mark? Em

[AG2012]

Hi,
Maker`s mark is really poorly struck, not removed on purpose.Positive identification is not possible based on the images, unless you can identify both letters with 10X loupe.
Small mark could be JOURNEYMAN mark, no reference to support it, though.
Regards

[Emmajayne1]

Thanks for the reply. Is it standard that badly struck marks were deemed acceptable? You'd almost expect the silversmith to request it be redone!

Reading about journeymen with interest, many thanks.

[AG2012]

Hi,
Badly struck marks just happened and can be seen on many pieces. Collecting duty on silver was more important than perfectly struck marks.
Regards

[Cuznerfan]

Hello Emmajayne1
It was not unusual for the manufacturer to stamp the maker's mark onto a piece prior to sending the item in for hallmarking which is why we often see poorly marked maker's marks next to crisp hallmarks. Also (ref the previous reply) duty was not collected by the Assay offices on silver at the time your tray was manufactured. As for the number '3' punch this manufacturer may have had at least 3 members of staff punching these type of trays they may have been on piece work i.e. charging per piece made and so this denotes which member of staff was responsible for this tray. Hope this helps Craig