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THE SILVER INQUIRY "HELP LINE"
So, have a few pieces of nice silver, but don't have a clue as to "who made it", "where it was made" or "by whom was it made?". But you would like to know? No worries. Send me an email with 'Silver Inquiry' in the subject line to this address, and I'll do what I can to help you.
DISCLAIMER
PLEASE NOTE: My area of interest, and my area of specialisation, is in English Sterling Silver from between 1700 and 1900. While I am competant in the basic identification of American and European work, I do not have the resources, nor the knowledge, to be particularly knowledgable in this area. But please still send in your inquiries, as I may be able to tell you what it is not.
To answer your query, I will need the following;
1) Detailed description of the date letter; what type of font is it? Is it lower or upper case? What shape "shield" is the letter contained in?
2) Detailed description of the maker's mark; what letters are present? Are there any stars or marks over or under the maker's mark? What shape "shield" is the maker's mark set on? (e.g. square, oval, figure of eight).
3) Detailed description of the city mark; While sometimes this is easy (e.g. London), more provincial pieces often have similar marks. Describe the makr carefully, including the shape it is, and any other important aspects.
4) Detailed description of the duty mark; Which way is it facing? Is it a man or a woman; important, as it reflects the King or Queen who was ruling England at the time.
Drop me an E-Mail with the above information, and I'll get back to you when I can (as I do have an everyday job).
DISCLAIMERS
NB I'm not a professional dealer/valuer, and as such I don't give out valuations or any idea of value. IF YOU ASK FOR ANY INDICATION OF VALUE OR WORTH IN YOUR INQUIRY, I WILL SIMPLY DELETE YOUR EMAIL.
Additionally, while I "pass judgment" on your the origin and dates of your pieces, please remember that I am a hobbyist and collector, not a professional in this area. I am not a professional appraiser, my opinion does not count for insurance purposes and I do not issue letters or notes to sucheffect. I simply like to try and help people know where their family heirlooms (or car boot sale purchases) came from.
© 2004 RH Nottage
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