I've just acquired a sterling silver button hook that I'm trying to get the background on, but unfortunately I don't have a camera good enough to take a photo of the tiny markings (they all end up illegible). I don't know if it counts as plate, the hook & shaft section are solid metal (steel?) and the handle appears to be thin embossed/engraved sterling silver that was folded over and seamed. There are also a few very worn/chipped stones that appear to be garnet set in the handle.
The city & date marks are anchor, lion-en-passant, and a lowercase k, so it seems to be Birmingham, England, either 1909 or 1808... the marks are too worn to tell the font on the letter to determine which one (the shaft is also stamped "English Made"). The maker's mark, however, is "G&CL", which I haven't been able to find a reference to anywhere after searching both the site and forums here and elsewhere.
If anyone's run into this maker's mark before, it would be greatly appreciated if you could let me know what period it might be from, if it's a fake, or any info at all. :) I am trying to see if I can borrow a high-quality camera to get a photo of them for better reference. Thank you!
Silver plated? button hook - Photo shy
There are a number of possibilities. Green & Cadbury perhaps. Take a look at this page: http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Make ... ham-G.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Is your mark like any of those listed? Buttonhooks were popular in the late Victorian/Edwardian era so would suspect the later date. The shank/hook end was usually made of steel and the handle of sterling silver. It doesn't sound like a fake to me.
Regards/carling
Is your mark like any of those listed? Buttonhooks were popular in the late Victorian/Edwardian era so would suspect the later date. The shank/hook end was usually made of steel and the handle of sterling silver. It doesn't sound like a fake to me.
Regards/carling