III

LONDON MARKS

1558 to 1577

(Twenty letters are used, omitting J.)

The earlier letters of this alphabet were impressed with a stamp following the outline of the shape of the letter. Later a shield was used. The type of this date letter is Black Letter Small. Similar type was used from 1678 to 1696, and the shields are the same shape. This type was again used in the reign of Victoria from 1856 to 1875, but the shield is different.

1578 to 1597

(Twenty letters are used, omitting J; and the U is of the same form as the V, which was followed in succeeding alphabets till the year 1735.)

Roman Capital Letters are used at this period. The lion and leopard’s head are in a stamp following the outline, a practice which continued till 1678. From 1716 to 1735, in the reign of George I, a similar alphabet was used with shields of the same shape; but the first four years have the figure of Britannia and lion’s head erased, the Higher Standard Mark. In 1720 the lion and leopard’s head with a new shape of shield clearly indicate the difference.

1598 to 1617

Lombardic Capitals are used in this alphabet. The peculiarities in this series are the letter A with its crossbar (1598), the letter C (1600), which is a D reversed, and the letter G (1604).

1618 to 1637

The letters used are Small Italic. The shields are slightly longer and pointed at bottom. The noticeable letters puzzling to beginners are b (1619), similar to h (1625), l (1628), and s (1635). The l (1628) is similar to the s (1753).

LONDON MARKS

LONDON MARKS

THE COURT HAND ALPHABET

1638 to 1657

CHARLES I. AND COMMONWEALTH

The next alphabet used at the London Assay Office for annual date letters is of a peculiar type known as the Court Hand. Most of the letters are of a character which has not survived in modern usage and they are of a form dissimilar to any other. This Court Hand was employed from the year 1638 to 1657, that is during the latter half of the reign of Charles I and during the Commonwealth up to 1657.

This series of characters was again used from 1696 to 1715, that is to say during six years of the reign of William III, the whole of the reign of Queen Anne, and for the first two years of George I.

Two very important periods are thus covered by these two Court Hand alphabets. It should not be difficult to avoid confusing the one period with the other, as there are other factors which determine which is the latter series. The leopard’s head and the lion are, from 1697 to 1720, replaced by the figure of Britannia and the lion’s head erased.

The illustration of both series of Court Hand letters on pages 351 and 353 will enable readers to identify them more readily.

The examples illustrated on page 365 are, in conjunction with the maker’s mark, the leopard’s head, and the lion passant, for the period 1638 to 1657.

A comparison may be made with the later Court Hand characters, where examples will be found illustrated on page 373.

1638 to 1657

Among the difficulties presented by this Court Hand, the following letters are likely to give trouble in identification owing to their similarity in shape, which becomes more pronounced when the letters are worn and the details slightly obliterated. The a (1638) may be mistaken for the i (1646); the b (1639) is not unlike the letter h (1645); and the k (1647) resembles the letter b (1639), which with its peculiar form, when worn, is only distinguishable by the bar across the centre. A worn letter d (1641) is apt to resemble an s (1655).

In examining the letters under a glass, care should be taken to see that they are not upside down, as in some instances they often resemble others. The shape of the shield is usually clearly enough defined to show the pointed base.

Although these letters are so extremely puzzling, especially to beginners, it should be borne in mind in comparison with the similar Court Hand alphabet which was used later from 1696 to 1715, that the date marks are only confirmatory. In the later series there is the difference in the omission of the lion passant and the leopard’s head, replaced by the figure of Britannia and the lion’s head erased. But the character of the silver itself tells its own story in cases where date marks and standard marks happen to be wholly obliterated. A piece of Queen Anne plate differs so essentially in style from a piece of Charles I or Cromwellian that it should be impossible to fall into any error in mistaking the one for the other.

LONDON MARKS

LONDON MARKS

1658 to 1696

CHARLES II, JAMES II, WILLIAM AND MARY

This period covers the late Stuart silver—Charles II, James II, and the major portion of the reign of William III.

The period represents a renaissance in the styles, and there is a noticeable rejuvenance in the specimens still preserved. For example, see candlesticks illustrated (page 227).

But it must be remembered that during the Charles I period in the days of the Civil War much of the silver was melted down to enable the king to use it in striking the coins of the realm.

Similarly in the reign of William III the old silver was called in by the Royal Mint to be melted down to convert into coin of the realm, for reasons which we have explained elsewhere. On account of the depredations of the coin-clippers much of the fine old silver of the reigns of Charles II and James II was destroyed. In consequence, the silver of the reigns of Charles I, Charles II, and James II is of considerable rarity.

With the opening of the eighteenth century, or, to be exact, from 1697 to 1720, the Higher Standard was obligatory, and with this departure, and the fashions of Queen Anne, a new period of silver is entered. Collectors are divided into schools according to their predilections. To one, nothing later than Elizabeth offers any interest. To another, early Stuart silver affords charms which no later period can supplant. Again, to others the Queen Anne period is the be-all and end-all of their ambitions in collecting.

1658 to 1677

In this alphabet the peculiarities are the letters C (1660) and E (1662), which are only distinguishable from each other by the cross-bar to the letter E. The letter G is an exceptional form (1664), and is shown on the opposite page. O (1671) is also an unusual form. Letters T (1676) and L (1668) are somewhat similar in form, and may easily be mistaken for each other in worn examples.

The letter H (1665) is illustrated as the mark on a wine-cup (page 129).

1678 to 1696

In the year 1679 an oblong shield was used for the lion, as shown on page 357. This mark is taken from the Sumner Salt in the Mercers’ Company Hall, illustrated page 155. The letter E is found on a Snuffers and Tray, illustrated page 231, and the letter F on a Porringer (1683), illustrated page 205. The letter H (1685) is shown on the opposite page.

In regard to this alphabet great changes were in the air (see Higher Standard Mark, pages 49-59), and this alphabet comes to an end with the letter t, and no later date letter than t was employed. But from March to May in 1697 the letter a of the Court Hand alphabet was used, and from May 1697 to May 1698 the Court Hand letter b was used (see succeeding alphabet).

This is the only occasion when the London Assay Office departed from the regular employment of twenty letters, from A to U, excluding the letter J.

LONDON MARKS

Other Marks illustrated are 1665 (p. 129), 1669 (p. 197), 1682 (p. 231), 1683 (p. 205).

LONDON MARKS

1697 to 1715

WILLIAM III (1697-1702), QUEEN ANNE (1702-1714)

During this period there were some important Acts of Parliament which relate to Silver Plate and determine certain changes which are interesting to collectors.

In 1696-7, by 8 and 9 William III, cap. 8, the standard of silver plate was raised higher than that of the coinage, to stop the practice of melting down the coin of the realm and converting it into plate. From the 25th of March, 1697, the new standard became compulsory, and any silver plate made less than ·959, that is, 959 parts of pure silver in every thousand, was illegal. The marks of the maker were to be the first two letters of his surname, and the lion passant and the leopard’s head were to be discontinued. The new standard silver was to be stamped with the figure of Britannia in place of the former mark, and the lion’s head erased in place of the latter.

In 1700, under 12 William III, cap. 4, Chester, York, Exeter, Bristol, and Norwich were reappointed Assay Towns with the right to stamp silver.

It was enacted that the new standard should be observed; that the maker’s mark, the variable date letter (“Roman”), the arms of the city, the lion’s head erased, and the figure of Britannia be stamped on the silver.

In 1702, 1 Anne, cap. 3, a similar power was conferred on Newcastle-on-Tyne.

1697 to 1715

This alphabet presents a difficulty at the outset. The letter a was only used from March to May 1697, and from thence to May 1698 the letter b was used. An example is illustrated on page 217 of this latter period. The maker, John Bodington, signs the first two letters of his surname below a bishop’s mitre.

The letter c is illustrated from a mark on a cupping-bowl, 1698, and should be compared—as should all the letters in this Court Hand alphabet—with the letter c (1640) in the series 1638 to 1657.

The letter c (1698) and q (1711) are shown opposite. The maker’s initials, Ke, stand for William Keith.

The letter d (1699) is given elsewhere (page 353).

The letter f (1701) is the mark on a sugar-caster illustrated (page 269). The maker, Christopher Canner, stamps the first two letters of his surname.

The letter i (1704) is unlike any modern i, and is from a Monteith illustrated (page 135). The maker, Louis Mettayer, uses the first two letters of his surname.

The letter k (1705) is equally unfamiliar. It is from a teapot and stand. The maker, Simon Pantin, signs the first letters of his Christian and surnames. In 1739 this was made compulsory by statute.

The letter r (1712) is shown on a caster illustrated (page 269).

All the marks on opposite page denote the Higher Standard—figure of Britannia and lion’s head erased.

LONDON MARKS

The Higher Standard (1697-1720)

Other Marks illustrated are 1697 (p. 217), 1701 (p. 269), 1704 (p. 135), 1712 (p. 269).

LONDON MARKS

1716 to 1778

GEORGE I, GEORGE II, and GEORGE III (the first quarter of his reign).

In the sixth year of the reign of George I, in 1720, the old silver standard was revived. After 1720 the figure of Britannia and the lion’s head erased disappear from silver. In 1721 the leopard’s head and the lion passant reappear as hall and standard marks, and from this date the provincial offices again took up the assaying of silver.

In 1721 the leopard’s head was in a square shield, as shown on page 357.

In 1722 and 1723 the leopard’s head was in a circular shield. In 1724 and 1725 the shield for the leopard’s head was in an escutcheon with a rounded base (see illustration, page 357). From 1726 to 1728 the leopard’s head again is in a circular shield, and this and the previous years, 1722 and 1723, are the only occasions when the circular shield was used.

The shapes of the shields of the lion passant during this time are shown in the Table (page 357).

From 1729 to 1738 the leopard’s head is in a shield with a pointed base, and the lion is in an oblong shield.

From 1739 to 1755 the lion is in a shield which is irregular in shape following the outline. The leopard’s head from 1739 to 1750 is in a shield of elaborate shape, and the whiskers of the leopard are clearly marked in the stamp. From 1751 to 1755 the shield for the leopard’s head changes. These differences can be seen in the Table (page 357).

From 1756 to 1775 the leopard’s head has another shield. The lion from 1756 to 1895 (139 years) retains the same shaped shield.

1716 to 1735

The example given on the opposite page for the year 1717 belongs to the Higher Standard period.

The mark for 1722 is from a tea-caddy made by Bowles Nash, whose mark is a B with a star.

1736 to 1755

The example given on the opposite page for the year 1753 shows the date letter s, and is noticeable as likely to be confused with the letter f 1741.

1756 to 1775

The mark for 1761 on a cake-basket with the maker’s mark, E.R. (Edward Romer) is illustrated (page 291). It will be observed that from this date the initial letters of Christian and surname of makers were now used. This was compulsory in 1739 by 12 of George II cap. 26.

For the year 1773 a sugar-bowl is illustrated (page 283). The marks are given on the opposite page. The makers were S. and J. Crespell.

LONDON MARKS

Other Marks illustrated are 1746 (p. 251), 1761 (p. 291).

LONDON MARKS

1776 to 1835

GEORGE III, GEORGE IV (1820-30), WILLIAM IV

The most important feature in regard to marks in this period is the addition of the reigning sovereign’s head, which commenced in 1784. This Duty Mark was continued throughout the reigns of George III, George IV, William IV, and during the reign of Victoria until 1890, when the mark of the sovereign’s head was discontinued on the abolition of the duty on silver.

In regard to the collection of silver, it must be admitted that this period embraces decadent styles. The delicacy of the Stuart period with its refinement and grace, and the subsequent reticence of the Queen Anne and early Georgian styles, with their sober though essentially national character, was submerged in the first half of the nineteenth century in the Victorian era. There is an absence of originality and a feeling of dull, insipid, or overloaded ornament in most of the work of this period.

Practically with this period, from a collector’s point of view, the subject comes to an end. But there are bright spots now and again visible. There is the classic influence due to the same artistic impulse which directed Wedgwood and the Brothers Adam; but this only extended into the early years of the nineteenth century. The First Empire style came and went in furniture and silver, and only fitfully does it appear in design later than 1830.

1776 to 1795

In this period the most noticeable difference in the marks is the addition of the head of George III, in 1784, when the Duty Act was passed (24 George III).

1796 to 1815

Three examples are given from this period, 1798, 1808, and 1810; the last set of marks is taken from a silver-gilt salt with Pompeian style of ornament made by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. This is illustrated on page 173.

1816 to 1835

In 1821 the head of George IV replaced that of his father, and from 1831 to 1836 the head of William IV was stamped as a Duty Mark.

In 1821 the leopard’s head lost its crown, and has so remained since that date. The lion at the same time had the head fuller and in profile, in which style it has continued till the present day.

LONDON MARKS

LONDON MARKS

1836 to 1915

VICTORIA (1837-1901), EDWARD VII (1901-10), GEORGE V

From a collecting point of view there is not much in this last period to invite comparison either in beauty or originality with the best periods of old silver.

In order to complete the series of examples herein given a selection of marks has been made covering this period, so that the reader may recognize modern marks, especially when the design of the piece has been copied from some old specimen.

The period is important in embracing several protective measures designed to safeguard the public interests and to bring the assay offices under stricter supervision. The Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Hall-Marking of Gold and Silver Plate, etc., which was issued in 1879, should be carefully studied by those students who wish to master the complexities of hall-marking.

In 1876 it was enacted (39 and 40 Vict. cap. 35) that all foreign plate, before its sale in England, should be assayed here and bear the letter F in an oval escutcheon. Amended by 4 Edward VII, cap. 6, 1904.

In regard to forgery of silver plate there is ample provision to bring the offenders to book. By Vict. 7 and 8, cap. 22, sections 5 and 6, penalties are provided for those altering and adding to plate, and possessing, selling, or exporting such plate without fresh assay; a fine of £10 can be imposed for each article so found in a person’s possession without lawful excuse.

1836 to 1855

From 1837 the head of Queen Victoria appears as a Duty Mark, and till 1875 the leopard’s head, still uncrowned, is of a different form (see Table, page 357).

1856 to 1875

In this period the shape of the shield for the date letter, which had remained the same since 1756, was now for the last time used. Its new shape is shown in the following period.

1876 to 1895

The shape of the date shield was changed with the letter B in 1877. In 1876, with the letter A, the shield of the leopard’s head was changed, and the face became more feline with whiskers (see Table, page 357). In 1876 another new mark was added, the letter F, in an oval escutcheon, which was compulsory by law to be stamped on all foreign silver assayed at any office in the United Kingdom.

In 1890 the sovereign’s head disappears, as the duty on silver was then abolished.

1896 to 1915

In this last period of all it will be observed that the shields of the date letter and the leopard’s head both change their shapes, and have three lobes.

LONDON MARKS