www.925-1000.com

I have a small collection of bookmarks - hallmarked English, European silver, silver plate and either totally base metal or very worn silver plate. I have a couple which surprise me. They are both marked C&N with the word silver BUT I thought the C&N might be the maker's mark for Crisford & Norris, but would then have expected a lion, assay office mark and date mark. Can anyone identify the maker, material, country of origin or guess an age for this one? Thanks!!

In the hope that someone can identify the maker, if not the material and age, here is a larger picture of the mark ... thanks for looking!







Bookworm

Hi Bookworm,
What is the handle made of?
Tom

The handle is a mottled green smooth stone - moss agate????

I have another with the same C&N SILVER mark with a mother of pearl handle in a more sword shape with a hilt. They actually do look like silver.

Bookworm

New Zealand, at a guess.

Thanks, for that. If it is from New Zealand, does that mean that Crisford and Norris imported/sponsored it .... or isn't it their maker's mark at all?

Sorry, don't know whether it was made in England and exported or made in New Zealand by a local firm with the C & N initials.

Tom

Thanks for the info Tom!

An antiques dealer in Mayfair has kindly replied to my e-mail on the subject of C&N SILVER markings on a bookmark, and dating based on C&N's production years as follows:

Not all English silver has to be hallmarked. However in this case, I
think Crisford & Norris must have exported a fair amount of bookmarks,
as I have had quite a few without hallmarks but marked silver or
sterling which would have been quite adequate for sale in America.

I do not know of their exact dates of production, so the best way would
be find similar examples that have been hallmarked and give yours a
circa date.

Hopefully this may help others with a similar problem.

Regards Bookworm