Provincial irish Maker's Mark
Provincial irish Maker's Mark
Seeking help in trying to identify this maker's mark. It could be I.H or H.I . It appears on an Irish mustard pot dating from between 1760-1780. Many thanks for any suggestions.
Re: Provincial irish Maker's Mark
Hi Argentum,
Douglas Bennett in his 'Collecting Irish Silver' notes a 'I.H' that appeared on Cork silver. He attributes this mark to either John Hillery (1750-80) or John Humphreys (1773-87).
The pellet that divides the 'I' and the 'H' in his publication, is shown as circular, whereas your pellet appears to be diamond shaped. The difference may be that of the reproduction. I have noted in the past that the London marks that are reproduced in Grimwades often have a loss of detail when compared with an example of a well preserved mark found on a piece of silver. This is because Goldsmiths' Hall in London took ink impressions from the maker's punches and entered them into a register, a process that often lost fine detail. Off the top of my head, I cannot remember if the Dublin Assay Office used registers or pewter/copper plates to record the makers, but if the former, then this may account for the difference.
Hillery was recorded as working at 46, North Main Street, Cork in 1750. He died in 1780. No details on Humphreys.
Regards Trev.
Douglas Bennett in his 'Collecting Irish Silver' notes a 'I.H' that appeared on Cork silver. He attributes this mark to either John Hillery (1750-80) or John Humphreys (1773-87).
The pellet that divides the 'I' and the 'H' in his publication, is shown as circular, whereas your pellet appears to be diamond shaped. The difference may be that of the reproduction. I have noted in the past that the London marks that are reproduced in Grimwades often have a loss of detail when compared with an example of a well preserved mark found on a piece of silver. This is because Goldsmiths' Hall in London took ink impressions from the maker's punches and entered them into a register, a process that often lost fine detail. Off the top of my head, I cannot remember if the Dublin Assay Office used registers or pewter/copper plates to record the makers, but if the former, then this may account for the difference.
Hillery was recorded as working at 46, North Main Street, Cork in 1750. He died in 1780. No details on Humphreys.
Regards Trev.
Re: Provincial irish Maker's Mark
Just to update this post, the Dublin Assay Office recorded the makers' marks on copper plates.
Trev.
Trev.