Also, on the Forum the other day was an interesting discussion about a "Pheon", on these Tongs is a very interesting amorial which appears to be a Cockerell ? holding something, once again any ideas ?
Regards
Nigel
Makers Mark on Cast Tongs and amorial ?
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nigel le sueur
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Makers Mark on Cast Tongs and amorial ?
The makers mark on these tongs is quite distinctive, but who is it ? Thomas Farren's mark is very similar (Grimwades 2755) but he was presumed dead by 1743 which would make these a bit early for cast tongs, the next candidate would be Thomas Fair which except for the star shaped pellets (Grimwades 2756) worked about the correct time, and he was a smallworker (1764-1773) any one any ideas ?
Also, on the Forum the other day was an interesting discussion about a "Pheon", on these Tongs is a very interesting amorial which appears to be a Cockerell ? holding something, once again any ideas ?
Regards
Nigel
Also, on the Forum the other day was an interesting discussion about a "Pheon", on these Tongs is a very interesting amorial which appears to be a Cockerell ? holding something, once again any ideas ?
Regards
Nigel
The mark is one of John Faux's bucklemaker marks entered in 1773 and 1777 . They are not illustrated in Grimwade (but are listed on page 393 in the third edition with the other post 1773 bucklemaker marks ) .
As there has always been confusion over this mark I have personally checked it in the photo copy of the smallworkers book at Goldsmiths Hall and can categorically confirm this was registered to John Faux.
Faux has an interesting career. Originally working on his own from 1763 he entered into partnership with George Love around 1764 and the pair had a series of joint marks as small workers until 1773. They were given as bucklemakers in the Parliamentary Report of 1773, but Love died soon afterwards. His will was proved at PCC on 29 Dec 1773 (PROB11/993) after which John carried on with sole marks until 1784, primarily as a bucklemaker. He was bankrupt in 1785 ( typical fate of bucklemakers in the mid to late 1780's when shoe buckles went out of fashion) and an interesting advert for his effects can be seen in Times of 7th Jan 1786. He got his good conduct certificate after the bankruptcy but never registered another mark. I would be interested if anyone does know anything about his subsequent career , as I think he may have been a journeyman to James Atkins . His son Thomas Thames Faux, another silversmith apparently took over the business at Workship Street (according to Heal) but it did not last long after 1784. Not a good time to be a bucklemaker ! Thomas , who died around 1802, ended up as the "Keeper of House for the Reception of Lunatics" but I have no idea of the date of Johns death
This particular mark ( in at least two sizes ) is chiefly found on buckles of the 1773 -1784 period and on a few tongs. I have never seen one of his pre- partnership marks, but several buckles and numerous cast tongs survive bearing the mark of Faux and Love.
As there has always been confusion over this mark I have personally checked it in the photo copy of the smallworkers book at Goldsmiths Hall and can categorically confirm this was registered to John Faux.
Faux has an interesting career. Originally working on his own from 1763 he entered into partnership with George Love around 1764 and the pair had a series of joint marks as small workers until 1773. They were given as bucklemakers in the Parliamentary Report of 1773, but Love died soon afterwards. His will was proved at PCC on 29 Dec 1773 (PROB11/993) after which John carried on with sole marks until 1784, primarily as a bucklemaker. He was bankrupt in 1785 ( typical fate of bucklemakers in the mid to late 1780's when shoe buckles went out of fashion) and an interesting advert for his effects can be seen in Times of 7th Jan 1786. He got his good conduct certificate after the bankruptcy but never registered another mark. I would be interested if anyone does know anything about his subsequent career , as I think he may have been a journeyman to James Atkins . His son Thomas Thames Faux, another silversmith apparently took over the business at Workship Street (according to Heal) but it did not last long after 1784. Not a good time to be a bucklemaker ! Thomas , who died around 1802, ended up as the "Keeper of House for the Reception of Lunatics" but I have no idea of the date of Johns death
This particular mark ( in at least two sizes ) is chiefly found on buckles of the 1773 -1784 period and on a few tongs. I have never seen one of his pre- partnership marks, but several buckles and numerous cast tongs survive bearing the mark of Faux and Love.
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nigel le sueur
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Thanks Nigel
The Armorial is a family crest which is distinctive enough to be worth looking through Fairbairn for. Your library may have a copy but if you have to order it via them, go for the 1905 Fox -Davies edition. The earlier ones are a mess .
Having got into the minds of theses guys a few times, I suspect that your family was called Roach. The strange object I suspect is , wait for it, a cock -roach !
The Armorial is a family crest which is distinctive enough to be worth looking through Fairbairn for. Your library may have a copy but if you have to order it via them, go for the 1905 Fox -Davies edition. The earlier ones are a mess .
Having got into the minds of theses guys a few times, I suspect that your family was called Roach. The strange object I suspect is , wait for it, a cock -roach !