A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
THE WHAT IS? SILVER DICTIONARY

HALLMARK
MARK
MAKER'S MARK
TOWN MARK
ASSAYER MARK
DUTY MARK

They are punched mark(s) on an article of silver to identify the town or assay office and the silversmith who made the item or assayed it, Hallmarks on silver have been used in Great Britain since the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) and in some countries on the Continent since the 14th century.
In the United States, where there is no governement assaying, there are now no official hallmarks.
London hallmark: William Sumner 1733
English silver has also a 'date letter' corresponding to the date of assaying of the piece and the 'Sovereign's head' to certify the payement of the duty (1784-1890).
Different Marks and Hallmarks are punched also on 'Old Sheffield Plate', in Electroplated Silver and in Silver Plate.
English sterling silver hallmarks
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Elkington & Co. Ltd - Birmingham


English Electroplate and Silver Plate hallmarks
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Devices of Old Sheffield Plate


Old Sheffield Plate hallmarks
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Russian hallmark


Russian silver hallmarks
Russian assayer marks
Russian maker's mark
Russian town mark
Italian hallmark


Italian silver hallmarks
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German national mark from 1888 Roth & Comp.Silberwaren-Manufaktur: Hanau, end of 19th century hallmark
German silver hallmarks

Hanau silver hallmarks
French hallmarks


French silver hallmarks
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American silverplate hallmarks

American silverplate hallmarks
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Elkington hallmark 1840
Famous maker's hallmarks:
Elkington & Co
Tiffany & Co
Jensen
Gorham
English home page
www.silvercollection.it
This is a page of 'The What is? Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1000 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington), history, oddities ...
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