Mark on Garrard tea set

[AG2012]

Additional mark on three piece Sebastian Garrard tea set, fully marked for London 1921 and Albemarle Street.
The mark is at the bottom, have not seen it on Garrard silver so far.An import mark struck elsewhere? Does not look like this,either.
Everything is so well legislated and known in UK silver, this should not be a mystery;what is it?
Thanks for looking

[dognose]

Hi,

It would appear to be a journeyman's mark that identifies the actual maker of the piece.

See Tally Mark, at: http://www.925-1000.com/silverglossary5.html

Trev.

[AG2012]

Thanks for helping — had no idea about apprentices (journeymen) having had their own mark
I always look for any mark — one never knows what additional info may emerge.This is incised on the same teapot. The first digits may be kind of serial numbers or whatever but then it was incised ``3 PCE``. Obviously the particular tea set was made as three - piece. Having in mind there are sets up to seven pieces (kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, sugar bowl, creamer or milk jug, waste bowl, tray) it’s good to know if the set is complete or not. I suppose my assumption is correct or it’s just a coincidence, with ``3 PCE`` meaning something else - very unlikely,though.Thanks again.

[MCB]

There is a distinction between an apprentice and a journeyman. An apprentice may only work for his master; a journeyman will find work wherever he can and expect payment, hence the need for an identification mark. An apprentice should not receive payment for his work and strictly it should be performed under his master's control; both reasons would normally remove the need for a mark to identify an apprentice.

Mike