www.925-1000.com

Hello, I wonder if you could identify the mark on this Toastrack for me :- JAMES WEIR 8357. From what I have gleaned I think he may have been a Glasgow Silversmith and Retailer. I wonder is this a Patent, Design or Registered number ? I would love to have any information you may have. It has a very 'Christopher Dresser' or 'Arts & Crafts' look. I would love to know how old it is. Also if it could be solid silver if there is no obvious Hallmark, as it certaily looks solid silver quality. Thanks for your assistance, Kind regards, Shirley




[/img]

Hello

In GB, it seems to me, it’s more usual to mark silver as correct as possible = otherwise they wouldn’t gain the result of sale they want.

Plated ware producer, whole seller and retailer even like to gain a reasonable result in sale. But they’ve to compete with competitor’s image of silver products. So from at least 165 year ago they copied the appearance of silver marks — and for to get more attention they struck most times one more mark as it was usual to struck silver ware.

And most important is for ever to hold in mind: For plated products weren’t many restrictions or regulations; not in the past, not now. Most “regulative” was — and still is — the competition!

Some whole seller have got such an influence, that they claimed to struck not maker’s mark; instead of maker’s mark already were struck in maker’s workshop or factory their mark.

But also some retailer — as it looks like in this case — gained an equal position as whole sellers have got. If not, almost of them struck before sale her name in full on the objects.

Reason there fore were in general to enlarge their market reputation — but also e.g. to prevent unjustified reclamations.

But why carry your toast rack only one name’s mark? If in between maker and seller it wasn’t necessary to mark — for which reason who ever — then marking wouldn’t be done.

Long or short before your toast rack was sale it was struck with retailer’s name of local reputation; here: JAMES WEIR.

But James Weir already received this toast rack Model numbered from his whole seller or the producer; here: 8357. This numerical signification could be: Whole seller or producer has a large range of Model. Numerics are a constant must to prevent confusion everywhere in the chain between production and client.

Two year ago you’ve present to the forum a toast rack in a »Functional Style« - Functional in production (e.g. same basic silver thread material — could be well done with some machines in a factory, as also well done in a little, but skilled workshop); Functional in appearance and hygienic in use. Dr. Christopher Dresser could be in this case also “godfather” of Style — but, I guess, not more.

Style of actually presented toast rack is a mingling of a “natural” attempt, and an appearance of “overdone” details. It’s an »Eye catcher« when empty — important to be the “Queen” on »Point of Purchase«, to be the “Queen” as a Present, and also when guests be invited. Time to clean them up = twice.

“Christopher Dresser”? No. “Arts en Crafts”? Not even. This “competitor” is an »Eye catcher« - there fore well designed. As already mentioned, really »well nice to see«.

Period of his Design, and also of his Production? I guess: In the 1950 (reason: hoops)
Material: Unknown basic material; maybe brass, then after be plated.
Producer: Unknown; maybe a metal ware factory with a large range of models.
Whole seller: Unknown; maybe some one with a large range of models.
Retailer: James Weir; maybe he, who you already have mentioned.

Kind regards silverport

Hello Shirley,

As Silverport suggests and from what can be seen there are no hallmarks on the toast rack and therefore it is unlikely to be of sterling silver quality.
My guess for 8357 is a pattern number but whether one of Weir's or by some other manufacturer and bought in for retail I don't know.
If the other stamp was James Weir's of Glasgow he was active from around 1890 to around 1920 which may date the article a little more accurately for you.

Mike