www.925-1000.com

While I have dated hundreds of pieces of silver over the years I have a few that have stumped me. This is an example of such a piece. I have been wondering about them and finally gotten around to researching it all.

The Lion Passant and George III duty marks look right but the lack of an origin mark concerns and perplexes me.

Is there some explanation for this that I'm missing in my reading?

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/image/8/c/1/1 ... stom-0.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )

Thanks!

This is a London mark with the assay date 1818. We can be sure it's London because the makers, Sarah & John Blake (a mother and son partnership) were London silversmiths. It was entirely normal for the assay office mark to be omitted, especially on smaller items, around this period (from c1790 to c1820), particularly for London, but also on occasions for some of the provincial offices such as Exeter, Chester and York.

Phil

Sorry, I looked at the maker's mark too quickly - it's not SB over IB, but SR over IED for Solomon Royce and John East Dix, who were also London silversmiths.

Phil

Thanks Phil, I thought that might have been the case but needed a second opinion.