Hanoverian Rattail Spoon Mark

[silverly]

This mark on a spoon I just bought is completely unfamiliar to me. I'm not sure it British. Just starting it here. Will post more images when I'm able. Any help with identification will be very much appreciated.

[silvermakersmarks]

It's Irish. EB is Edward Barrett who was active from the end of the seventeenth century until his death in 1722. The hallmark is Dublin and from the letter cycle 1720-1745. The date letter is a little problematical but is either C, E or G (gothic / Old English style) for, respectively, 1722, 1724 or 1726. Barrett's mark is seen up to 1730 as his widow, Mary, continued his business.

Phil

[silverly]

Thank you; that is fabulous! Will do my best to post better images of the mark and the whole spoon when I can.

[silverly]

Here's some more images of the spoon and its partner. The mark in a serrated edge cartouche on front of the handle of one of the spoons is OW.
I'll work on some images that are better close ups.

[silverly]

Attempt at better closeups:



Date letter 1726?

[silverly]

Any thoughts about the OW mark or the practice of marking such flatware thusly certainly welcome. Also identification of the amorial if that's what it is would be especially interesting.

[samtron76df]

NICE spoons...

[silverly]

Thank you! They are great sturdy pieces.

[Aguest]

I was reading about a law passed in 1729 regarding the regulation of silver in Ireland, and I believe I recall that part of that law forbid extraneous marks to be used on Irish Sterling Silver, I also am curious what the {OE} means, specifically I was not able to figure it out, but it may belong to a general category of extraneous marks which were sometimes found on Irish silver until the 1729 Law Forbade it. :: perhaps? :::::