Need Help Identifying: Sterling or Silverplate? Reed & Barton “Stylist” Pattern

[user733]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a set of Reed & Barton flatware in the Stylist pattern, which was listed as "silver". However, I’m not seeing any “Sterling” or “925” markings on the pieces — just “Reed & Barton,” “Pat. Appl’d For,” and “XXXX.” An XRF scan showed 99% silver, but I understand that could just be surface-level.

I’ve attached photos of one of the spoons (front and back), and I’d really appreciate any help from those familiar with this pattern or Reed & Barton markings in general.

Would you say this is sterling or silverplate?

Thanks so much in advance!

https://imgur.com/SLKd8Dq
https://imgur.com/cGoWJPg
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[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Please embed your images as very few members will click on such links.

https://postimages.org (choose 'Share', then copy the 'Hotlink for forums' code) is recommended. Do not use Photobucket or Dropbox.

Trev.

[user733]

[Traintime]

Not solid silver.
Look for it here in silverplate under Stylist (pattern) from 1932-on: https://sterlingflatwarefashions.com/wh ... ed-barton/

It may be a silverplated ware that was used in commercial service (hotel, restaurant, etc.) and recieved a thicker layer of plating or special re-inforcement at wear points. The XXXX is likely a coding to cover that. (Household wares can be made in heavier plate versions, but that’s less common.) Trying to locate the user based on a single letter or monogram without extra devices or logos can be very difficult. Something like a “B” could be for one of the different Biltmore hotel venues, but matching a letter by form takes a “smoking gun” like you would see on a matchbook, china, stationery, etc.. The “Patent Applied” without a granted date would probably put production of the piece in the early cycle of 12 months or less from when the designer filed for examiner’s protection. (Unless challenged, it was usually granted fairly quickly. The stamp then changed to the granted date.) [A row of X’s are occasionly found to blank out another stamp for various reasons, but that does not appear to be the case here. We would see the old stamping underneath.]

[Traintime]

Look at the report here on Sierra not meeting XXXX grade in testing: viewtopic.php?p=143710&hilit=reed+barton+XXXX#p143710

[user733]

Thank you so much for the detailed reply — this is incredibly helpful and exactly the kind of insight I was hoping for.

I hadn’t considered that these could’ve been made for commercial service, but that would definitely explain the heavier feel and potentially reinforced wear points. I wonder if XXXX stands for quadruple plated...

I'll definitely dig further into the Stylist pattern under silverplate and explore the commercial use angle more — thanks again for the links and all your help!

P.S. I've found the report on Sierra before posting, very interesting and informative!