Pair of Shell-Shaped Sweetmeat Dishes with Hallmarks
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- 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.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- bowls and dishes, silver - silver, sweetmeat 176
-
dishes
- silver, bon-bon 327
- silver, other 624
- silver, shell shaped 136
Visually similar items
Terry Stringer, Dramatic Gesture Woman, polyester, resin & plywood sculpture, signed and inscribed with title to base 89 cm height
Pair Victorian sterling silver sauce ladles, Edinburgh 1849, makers 'Gb' (probably George Bell.) Both monogrammed, weight 76grams (total).
A beautiful Chinese lavender jade snuff bottle incised floral designs 6 cm
Victorian sterling silver basket, with pieced sides, blue glass liner and swing handle, hallmarked Birmingham 1894, 15 cm high