George V Sterling Silver Tea Set with Gadroon Edges
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- Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
- Hallmarks - A mark stamped on articles of precious metals in Britain, since the 14th century, certifying their purity. It derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay (test the purity) and mark articles of gold and silver.
The hallmark will consist of several marks, including the:
- silver standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal. Sterling silver is .925 pure silver.
- the city mark indicating the city in which it was assayed eg London, Birmingham, York etc.
- the date mark, usually a letter of the alphabet in a particular font and case,
- a duty mark, indicating whether duty had been paid to the crown, and only in use from 1784 to 1890
The piece may include an additional mark, the maker's mark, although not forming part of the hallmark, will be located in the vicinity of the hallmarks.
Sometimes silver plated items will bear faux hallmarks, often confusing those not familiar with silver markings. - George V - George V (1865 ? 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 until his death in 1936.
- Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
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Victorian sterling silver three piece Batchelors teaset oblong part fluted with gadrooned rims, engraved monogram, Birmingham, 1900, makers, brown and Clark.
George III hallmarked sterling silver three piece tea set and another matching sugar bowl and milk jug. By William Burwash, London, 1814, 1910 grams (5)
A three piece sterling silver cruet, 1930s Birmingham (various dates), with maker's marks for Hardy Bros, comprising two mustard pots of compressed form with four curvaceous feet, one with a blue glass liner, and a pear shaped pepper shaker; hallmarked to
Edward VII sterling silver four piece tea & coffee service oblong baluster shape with floral, shell and scroll cast corners, and stylised scroll, and roundel topped paw feet, London, 1908, makers, William Hutton & Sons, Ltd.