www.925-1000.com

Can anyone please help with the identification of this S.M makers mark? S.M was/were definitely active in the 1890’s and this mark appears on most Liberty & Co Japanese silver of this period that Liberty imported for their London store. Hence most likely it is a Japanese maker. However, some have identified it to a Chinese maker. All thoughts welcome. I should add it has nothing to do with Sampson Mordan, the english maker with similar mark.

Hi,

I too have seen this mark attributed to an undocumented Canton maker thought to have been working 1840-1880, the work described as "extraordinarily intricate high relief work incorporating partial parcel gilding."

To me though, it screams Japanese. I suppose there is always the possibility of a worker who worked in both countries, or a Chinese silversmith who learned his craft from a Japanese Master. Hopefully more information will come to light soon.

Whoever the maker was, it's a wonderful item.

Trev.

Thank you. I have another S.M mustard which is incredible and also stradles the two countries, though is ultimately very Japanese. Will post in due course.

Here is another S.M piece. Japanese or Chinese? I think Japanese for sure. Brilliantly conceived

I have seen a vase and a coffee pot bear this mark before. They were also engraved the engravers' names or alternative names, so that I believe the 'S.M' was for a Japanese export silver retail which is still unknown.

Thank you

Anthony et al

I am actually in the throes of writing an academic paper on the whole "S.M. Enigma". It sahould be published in about 2 weeks time. But the good news is I have finally unpicked all the threads and found the reality behind the mark,

I'm sorry I can't divulge it right here and now; the research has been ongoing on and off for over a year now. I also noted a while back you quote me on your website; hopefully you'll soon be able to update that considerably.

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

Adrien von Ferscht

That is quite something, thank you. Please do let me know when and how I can obtain a copy of your article once it is published, thank you.

Article solving the S.M. mystery once and for all: http://chinese-export-silver.com.gridhosted.co.uk/DmccT

Very interesting article!

~Cheryl

::: The article is amazing and the pair of vases is really incredible, this style of silver artistry is truly astounding in its level of detail :::