George III Sterling Silver Salts & Spoons Set
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. - George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
- 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.
Visually similar items
An English sterling silver salt and pepper, Indistinct hallmarks
Five sterling silver items, including salt and petter shakers, salt cellars, Birmingham, Chester, London 20th century made, including some with blue glass. Total weight silver 209g
An Australian sterling silver condiment set comprising salt cellar, pepper pot, mustard pot and 2 spoons stamped 'Stg. Sil.' with crown silver weight 180 grams
A small gilt bronze censer, late Ming dynasty with rounded sides supported on slender tripod legs, the sides with panels of 'The Three Friends' in relief on a punched ground divided by vertical flanges and set with two upright loop handles, box, 11.5 cm hi