Whether youre a collector of antique silver or just curious about the history of silverware, understanding British silver assay marks is essential. This guide will explain what the marks mean and how to identify them.
British silver assay marks are symbols stamped onto silver items to indicate that the item has been independently tested and verified as containing a certain level of silver. The marks were first introduced in the 1300s and are still used today. The marks can be used to identify the origin, date and maker of the item.
There are four main types of British silver assay marks: the lion passant, the date letter, the makers mark and the town mark. The lion passant is a symbol of the British monarchy and is the oldest of the four marks. The date letter is a letter of the alphabet that indicates the year the item was assayed. The makers mark is a unique symbol that identifies the maker of the item. The town mark is a symbol that identifies the town where the item was assayed.
To read British silver assay marks, start by looking for the lion passant. This symbol will be on the left side of the mark. Next, look for the date letter, which will be in the center of the mark. Then, look for the makers mark, which will be on the right side of the mark. Finally, look for the town mark, which will be at the bottom of the mark. Once youve identified all four marks, you can use them to determine the origin, date and maker of the item.
British silver assay marks can be found on the back or underside of silver items. They may also be found on the inside of items such as jewelry. If the item is too small to have the marks stamped onto it, they may be found on a tag or label attached to the item.
British silver assay marks are essential for identifying and authenticating antique silver items. By understanding the four types of marks and how to read them, you can easily identify the origin, date and maker of an item. Now that you know all about British silver assay marks, you can start your own collection of antique silver items!