HI. I´m wondering if someone can help me. I have a silver handle bowl. The marks tell me its from London and 1770, but the 4th mark is unreadable plus there is a swan mark under the 4 marks (its upside down). Who is the maker and what does the swan mean? Thank you very much.
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Unknown Makers & Import Mark - London 1770 - Handle Bowl
Hi,
The explanation from Tardy is:
The 'Swan' mark has been used since 1st July, 1893 on watch cases of all origins and up to 1970. It was also struck on articles coming from non-contracting countries. In addition it is struck on silverware of the legal standard of fineness, but unknown origin, which is sold at public auctions.
And from 'A Guide to Old French Plate' by Louis Carre is;
"The decree of June 29, 1893, discontinued the use of the 'ET' mark which had been created on January 13, 1864, for marking plate coming from countries without customs conventions, and replaced it by an 'owl' in an oval frame for gold and a 'swan' for silver. This reform had been rendered necessary by the Customs Law of January 11, 1892, which stipulated that all imported gold and silver plate should comply with the same conditions as plate manufactured in France"
But member argentregime wrote:
"I have seen it used as a control mark on items which were already fully and legally hallmarked via a system equivalent to France's and where origin was clear. I have also seen it used on single items stamped once, sometimes twice, and even sometimes stamped no less than three times. I have yet to find an explanation of these multiple marks."
There are still, maybe, some mysteries to be revealed regarding the 'Swan' mark.
Trev.
The explanation from Tardy is:
The 'Swan' mark has been used since 1st July, 1893 on watch cases of all origins and up to 1970. It was also struck on articles coming from non-contracting countries. In addition it is struck on silverware of the legal standard of fineness, but unknown origin, which is sold at public auctions.
And from 'A Guide to Old French Plate' by Louis Carre is;
"The decree of June 29, 1893, discontinued the use of the 'ET' mark which had been created on January 13, 1864, for marking plate coming from countries without customs conventions, and replaced it by an 'owl' in an oval frame for gold and a 'swan' for silver. This reform had been rendered necessary by the Customs Law of January 11, 1892, which stipulated that all imported gold and silver plate should comply with the same conditions as plate manufactured in France"
But member argentregime wrote:
"I have seen it used as a control mark on items which were already fully and legally hallmarked via a system equivalent to France's and where origin was clear. I have also seen it used on single items stamped once, sometimes twice, and even sometimes stamped no less than three times. I have yet to find an explanation of these multiple marks."
There are still, maybe, some mysteries to be revealed regarding the 'Swan' mark.
Trev.