The most common form of candle in poorer households in the 17th & 18th Century was the tallow candle, essentailly a bullrush that was dipped in animal fat and compressed in a metal instrument to make it harder and more more compact in a traditional candle type shape - one can only imagine what an awful smell they must have produced!

The more wealthy could afford to buy wax candles, which unlike todays very poor quality moulded candles were produced by repeatedly dipping the wick (often a double wick to reduce the liklihood of the candle being extinguished by drafts) into molten wax to build up a solid and very dense high quality candle.

You can see this process & buy these candles today from the incredible living Victorian museum at Blists Hill in the wonderous Ironbridge Gorge (I highly recommend you visit Ironbridge, Blists Hill & the other industrial museums there if you haven’t already - it is not only fascinating but incredibly beautiful).

Many candle holders and candlesticks were made from base metals such as brass & pewter, or from pottery, with major manufacturers like Wedgwood producing a monumental array of candlesticks in their creamware, pearlware, & jasperware bodies.

However, the candlestick of choice for the wealthy was of course made from silver, mainly as a show of wealth, but perhaps also because of the way that the soft, flickering candle light would have reflected off the precious metal.

The earliest silver candlesticks were made from sheet silver which was formed into shape and then decorated by hand with chasing and other forms of decoration.

Because sheet silver would be relatively thin the inside of the candlestick would often be filled with pitch or a similar heavy substance, certainly to make the candlestick appear to be solid silver by giving it some weight, and also to help it to remain stable and not become unwieldly when a candle was inserted.

Towards the end of the 17th Century silver candlesticks were produced by casting, meaning that much more silver was used in the candlestick. The casting process would normally see the candlestick base being cast in one piece, with the stem and candle holder being cast seperately as well.

These cast pieces would then be skillfully joined together to produce the finished candlestick.

Obviously for the manufacturer it is desirable to use the lowest amount of silver as possible to reduce manufacturing costs, and so in the 18th Century the candlestick reverted back to being produced from sheet silver.

The difference now though was that rather than the candlestick being raised by hand from sheet silver, it was machine cut by steel dies, and formed by machine much more rapidly than could be achieved by hand. Sheffield in particular was prevalent in the manufacture of machine made silver candlesticks in England.

These hollow ware candlesticks again needed to be weighted with pitch or other heavy material to make them useable and to make sure that the buyer believed they were getting something more substantial for their money, but this machine led process removed the need for skilled craftsmen to decorate the candlesticks, and made production much easier & faster resulting in a reduction in manufacturing costs of around 60% to 70% - a substantial saving.

Because of the very thin nature of the silver plate machine stamped silver candlesticks they are very easy to damage and very easily pick up dents, something that would not happen easily with cast silver candlesticks.

Because candlesticks were in use for such a long period of time there is a bewildering array of styles, shapes, and designs for collectors to consider, from simple and elegant rococo styles from the mid 1700’s, to the architectural splendour of neo classical designs from the late 18th Century, through to the sometimes confused and grandiose styles at the height of the Victorian era.

Antique silver candlesticks make a fascinating area of collecting that is affordable, enjoyable, and extremely satisfying.

One of the best know types of antique silver spoon is the apostle spoon, which probably originated in the 15th Century.

Apostle spoons have a very distinctive look with a small figure of either Jesus or one of the apostles (St Andrew, St Bartholomew, St James The Greater, St James The Less, St. John, St Jude, St Matthias, St Matthew, St Paul, St Philip, St Simon Zelotes & St Thomas) as the finial.

Apostle spoons vary in rarity with some of the saints being much more prevalent than others.

Seal top spoons are another form of early spoon, dating from around the 16th & 17th Centuries, with an almost Tudor style column at the finial, which usually has a flat round disc at the end.

Slip top spoons are another early form of spoon from the 16th or 17th Century, and tend to have a characteristically early round bowl, with a tapering stem that is “cut off” at the end.

The very round bowl, solid stem, and large hallmarks, usually nearer to (and perhaps actually in) the bowl itself are all typical of early antique silver spoons, as is simplicity of design.

Another early form of antique silver spoon is the puritan spoon, which appeared around the end of the 17th Century, again it is a very simple design as with much early antique silver.

From the middle of the 17th Century the trefid spoon became popular, with a now flat stem and the typical termination, and also the dog nosed spoon appeared, both of which come in a variety of styles, which can include decorative “lace back” patterns.

It was around this time that the infamous rat tail appeared on the underside of the spoons bowl to strengthen the termination between the stem and the bowl, the rat tail can also be decorated, with beading for example.

The types of spoon and the patterns that can be found really increased quite dramatically from the 18th century onwards, giving antique silver spoon collectors an enormous amount of choice for their collections.

One other interesting feature of antique silver spoons is the transformation from a “turn down” to a “turn up” style of manufacture.

What this means is that the spoon was made (up to say 1770) to sit on the table with the bowl facing down towards the table (hence the decoration to the back of the bowl rather than to the front), and then later this was changed so that the bowl was facing up, at which point decoration tends to be to the front of the spoon. You also find this with antique silver forks.

This “turn up” or “turn down” style can be a good indicator of age, especially when considered with the position of hallmarks, etc.

As time went on the hallmarks gradually became smaller and less prominent, and moved towards the end of the stem away from the bowl, probably as a result of more elaborate styles and patterns becoming the main decoration on antique silver spoons.

Of course there are also lots of different types of spoons, from teaspoons, to dessert spoons, and a whole lot more in between, and some collectors may also try to build a collection of examples of antique silver spoons made by one maker, or perhaps from provincial assay offices, etc.

If you would like to add to this brief discussion of antique silver spoons, show off some of your collection, or anything else that you think might be of interest to collectors then please contact us & let us know!

London Silver Makers Hallmarks:

A B S  Adey B Savory
A&CoLtd - Asprey & Co Limited 
AB - Alexander Barnet 
AB GB - Alice & George Burrows 
AB over GB - Alice and George Burrows 
ABS - A.B. Savory 
AC - Alexander Crichton 
AC - Augustine Courtauld 
AC over MC - The Alexander Manufacturing Company Limited 
AD - Alfred Dunhill 
AF Alexander Field 
AF SG Andrew Foglebert & Stephen Gilbert
AP - Abraham Peterson 
AS Thomas Ash
AS over JS over AS - Adey, Joseph and Albert Savory 
AsGd over Ld - The Artificer’s Guild Limited 
AZ JZ - Arthur Zimmerman & John Zimmerman 
BB - Benjamin Bickerton 
BC Benjamin Cooper
BHM - Berthold Hermann Muller 
BM - Benjamin Mountigue 
BM - Berthold Muller 
BS Benjamin Smith
BS - Benjamin Smith 
BS over IS - Benjamin & James Smith 
BU Thomas Burridge
BW - Benjamin Wilson 
C&Cd - Carrington & Co Limited 
C&Co - Collingwood & Co 
C&WPt - Charles Padgett & Walter Padgett 
CA - Charles Asprey 
CA & GA - Charles Asprey & George Asprey 
CA over CA Charles Asprey & Charles Asprey junior 
CB - Charles Belk 
CB - Charles Boyton 
CB over S - Charles Boyton & Son 
CB TB - Christopher Barker & Thomas Wilkes Barker  
CE 
CE - Charles Eley 
CF Charles Fox or Crispin Fuller
CF - Charles Faberge 
CF - Charles Thomas Fox 
CF - Crispin Fuller 
CFH - Charles Frederick Hancock 
CFH&Co - Hancocks & Co 
CG - Carlo Giuliano 
CG over AG Carol Giuliano & Arthur Giuliano 
CH - Charles Hougham  
CH - Christian Hillan 
CK Charles F Kandler (star below)
CM - Charles Mappin 
CN DM - Charles Neale & Daniel May I 
CO Augustin Courtauld (fluer-de-lys above)
CR Charles Rawlins
CR Christian & David Reid
CR Charles Reilly
CR over A - Charles Ashbee 
CR over GS - Charles Reily & George Sorer 
CR over WS - Charles Rawlings & William Summers 
CR WS Charles Rawlins & William Summers
CS FS - Cornelius Saunders & Frank Shepherd 
CS over H - C S Harris & Sons Ltd 
CS*FS - Cornelius Saunders & James Shepherd 
CSH - Charles Stuart Harris 
CSH & S - As above 
CTF over GF - Charles Thomas Fox & Gorge Fox 
D&J over W - D&J Welby Limited 
DH David Hennell
DM Dorothy Mills
DPW Dobson, Prior & Williams
DR  
DS BS Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith
DS over BS - Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith 
DS over RS over IS  - Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith & James Smith 
DS RS Daniel Smith & Robert Sharp
DU NH - Duncan Urquhart & Napthali Hart 
DU over NH - Duncan Urquhart & Naphtali Hart 
DW JW - As above 
DW over JW - Daniel & John Welby 
DWI - William & John Deane 
E&Co - Elkington & Co Limited 
E&Co&Ld - Elkington & Co Limited 
EBS over Ld - Edward Barnard & Sons Limited 
EC Ebenezer Coker
EE - Elizabeth Eaton 
EE over JE - Elizabeth Eaton & John Eaton 
EF Edward Feline
EF - Edward Fairbrother 
EF - Edward Farrell 
EF - Edward Feline 
EH Edward Hutton 
EKR Edward Reid 
EL - Edward Lees 
EM over JM - Edward Mappin & Joseph Mappin 
ET Elizabeth Tuite
ET - Elizabeth Taylor 
EW Edward Wigan
EY Edward York
FBT - Francis Boone Thomas 
FC Francis Crump
FE - Frederick Elkington 
FH - Francis Higgins 
FH & S over Ld - Francis Higgins & Sons Limited 
FO Thomas Folkingham
FS - Frances Stamp 
G imposed on L - George Lambert 
G of H - George Henry Hart (Guild of Handicraft) 
G of H Ltd - Guild of Handicraft Limited 
G&S Co Ld - Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Limited 
GA George Adams
GA - George Angell 
GA - George W Adams 
GB - George Brasier 
GB - George Burrows I 
GC - George Collins 
GD - George Day 
GF - George Fox 
GG - George Gray 
GJ over DF - George Jackson & David Fullerton 
GM - Gilbert Marks 
GMCo - Gorham Manufacturing Company 
GMJ - George Maudsley Jackson 
GN - George Nangle 
GN over RH - George Nathan & Ridley Hayes 
GRE - George Richards Elkington 
GS George Smith
GS  & Geroge Storer
GS  
GS - George Smith II 
GS - George Smith III 
GS - George Smith IV 
GS TH - George Smith & Thomas Hayter 
GS WF George Smith & Willaim Fearn
GS WF - George Smith & William Fearn 
GU - George Unite 
GW George Wintle
GW - George Wintle 
GW - George Wintle 
H&Co over Ltd - Hemming & Co Limited 
H&H - Hukin & Heath Ltd 
H&R over Ltd - Hunt & Roskell Limited 
HA Pierre Harache
HA over & over S - Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater 
HB Hester Bateman
HB - Hester Bateman 
HC Henry Chawner
HC - Henry Chawner 
HC IE Henry Chawner & John Emes
HE 
HGM - Henry George Murphy 
HH - Henry Hall 
HH - Henry Holland 
HJL - Henry John Lias 
HJL over JW - Henry John Lias & James Wakely 
HL - Herbert Lambert 
HL over HL - Henry John Lias and Henry John Lias 
HN Hannah Northcote
HN - Hannah Northcote 
HN over RH - Henry Nutting & Robert Hennell 
HS - Harold Stabler 
HV over AV - Henry Vander & Arthur Vander 
HW over & Co - Henry Wilkinson & Co 
IA - Jospeh Ash I 
IB James Bult
IB - James Bult 
IB - John Baker II 
IB - John Blake 
IB - John Bourne 
IB - John Bridge 
IB IB - John Beedall & John Bennett 
IB TM - John Bourne & Thomas Moore 
IC John Carter
IC - Joshua Cooper 
IC over WR - Joseph Craddock & William Reid 
ICP - John Cook Pettit 
ID - James Darquits junior 
IE - John Edwards III 
IF - John Figg 
IF - John Fisher 
IF - John Foster II 
IF GL - John Faux & George Love 
IF- John Faux 
IG John Gould
IG - John Girdler 
IG - John Gurney 
IH John Hyatt
IH - John Hawkins 
IH - Jonathan Hayne 
II IC - John Jones & John Chadwick 
IJK - John James Keith 
IK - John Keith 
IK - John Kohler I 
IK over RS - John Keith & Richard Stiff 
IL - John Lambe 
IL - John Lampfert 
IL - John Lias 
IL HL John & Henry Lias
IL HL - John & Henry Lias 
IL HL CL John, Henry & Charles Lias
IL HL CL - John, Henry & Charles Lias 
IL over HL - John & Henry Lias 
IL over HL over CL - John & Henry & Charles Lias 
IM over ISH- John Mortimer & John Samual Hunt 
IMF - John McFerlan 
IP John Pollock
IP - James Plumpton 
IP - John Priestman 
IP GP - Josiah & George Piercy 
IP IP - Jonathan & Jonathan Perkins 
IS John Swift or
IS - John Steward 
IS - Joseph Savory I 
IS - Joseph Scammell 
IS - Joseph Steward II 
IS IB - James Sutton & James Bult 
ISH - John Samuel Hunt 
IT - James Tookey 
IT - John Tweedie 
IW - John Warren 
IW IT John Walcelon & John Taylor
IWS over WE - J W Stoey & W Elliott 
J imposed on B - Jes Barkentin 
J over ASH over E - Joseph, Albert, Horace & Ethelbert Savory 
J over EBW over J - John, Edward, Walter & John Barnard 
JA Joseph Angell
JA - Joseph Angell 
JA JA J & J Aldous
JA over IA - Joseph & John Angell 
JA over JA - Joseph Angell & Joseph Angell 
JA over JS - James Aldwinckle & James Slater 
JA over TS - John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater 
JB - James Beebe 
JB - James Beebe 
JBC - Carrington & Co 
JBC - James Bodman Carrington 
JBH - James Barclay Hennell 
JC John Cafe
JC - Jacques Cartier 
JCV - John Collard Vickery 
JD over WD - John & William Deakin 
JD&S - James Dixon & Sons 
JE John Emes
JE - John Emes 
JG - James Garrard 
JH over * - Joseph Heming 
JL John Lias
JL - John LInnit 
JNM - John Newton Mappin 
JNM over GW - John Newton Mappin & George Webb 
JP - Jonathan Perkins I 
JPC - John Paul Cooper 
JR - Joseph Ridge 
JR & Sn Ld - John Round & Son Limited 
JS - Josiah Snatt 
JS over AS - Joseph & Albert Savory 
JSH - Joseph & Horace Savory 
JTH over JHM - John Heath & John Middleton 
JV Joshua Vander 
JV over JH - John Vander & John Hedges 
JW - James Wintle 
JW - James Wintle 
JW - John James Whiting 
JW over FCW - James Wakely & Frank Wheeler 
JWB - J W Benson 
JWB Ld - J W Benson Ltd 
JWD - James Dixon & Sons Limited 
JWH over JTH - Hukin & Heath 
LA Paul De Lamerie
LAC - Lionel Alfred Crichton 
LO Nathaniel Lock
LP Lewis Pantin
Ly & Co - Liberty & Co 
MB - Moses Brent 
MC Mary Chawner
MC - Mary Chawner 
ME Louis Mettayer
Mn Wb over & - Mappin & Webb Limited 
MS Mary Sumner
MS - Mary Sumner 
MS ES - Mary & Eliza Sumner 
N over BROS - Nayler Brothers 
Ne Mary & Elizabeth Sumner
NH - Napthali Hart 
NS Nicholas Sprimont
Ot & Bd - Ollivant & Botsford 
PB - Philip Batchelor 
PB AB Peter & Anne Bateman
PB AB - Peter & Ann Bateman 
PB AB WB Peter, Anne & William Bateman
PB AB WB - Peter, Ann & William Bateman 
PB IB Peter & Jonathan Bateman
PB IB - Peter & Jonathan Bateman 
PB over WB - Peter & William Bateman 
PB WB - Peter & William Bateman 
PD - Phineas Daniel 
PL Pierre Plate
PL Paul de Lamerie
PR - Phillip Rundell 
PS Paul Storr
PS - Paul Storr 
Py Benjamin Pyne (rose and crown above)
R&B - Robert & Belk Limited 
RB - Richard Britton 
RB&R - Rundell, Bridge & Rundell 
RC Richard Crossley
RC - Randall Chatterton 
RC - Richard Crossley 
RC GS Richard Crossley & George Smith
RC GS - Richard Crossley & George Smith 
RC over GS - Richard Crosley & George Smith 
RD - Richard Devonshire 
RE EB Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard
RE over EB - Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard 
RE WE Rebecca & William Emes
RFF - Robert Frederick Fox 
RG Robert Garrard
RG - Robert Garrard 
RH Robert Hennell
RH - Robert Hennell 
RH DH Robert & David Hennell
RH DH Robert & David Hennell
RH DH SH Robert, David & Samuel Hennell
RH over DH over SH - Robert, David & Samual Hennell 
RH over SH - Robert & Samuel Hennell 
RH SH Robert & Samuel Hennell
RM Robert & Thomas
RM - Richard Mills 
RM over EH - Martin Hall & Co Limited 
RM RC Robert Makepeace & Richard Carter
RN & Cr - Omar Ramsden & Alwyn Carr 
Ro Philip Rolles
RP - Robert Peppin 
RR Richard Rugg or Robert Rutland
RR - Robert Rutland 
RR over AR over IAH - Hunt & Roskell 
RS Robert Swanson
RT - Richard Turner 
RT JS - Richard Turner & John Shea 
SA - Stephen Adams 
SA - Stephen Adams I 
SA - Stephen Adams II 
SA WI Stephen Adams & William Jury
SB IB - Sarah & John William Blake 
Sc William Scarlett
SC - Simeon Coley I 
SG Samuel Godbehere
SG - Samuel Godbehere 
SG - Sebastian Garrard 
SG EW Samuel Godbehere & Edward Wigan
SG EW - Samuel Godbehere & Edward Wigan 
SG EW IB - Samuel Godbehere, Edward Wigan & James Bult 
SH - Solomon Hougham 
SH over SR over IED - Solomen Hougham, Solomen Royes & John East Dix 
SH SR IED - Solomon Hougham, Solomon Royes & John East Dix 
SJP - Solomen Joel Phillips 
SL Gabriel Sleath
SM Samuel Merton
SM - Samuel Marshall 
SM - Samuel Meriton II 
SM over &Co - as above 
SM -S. Morden & Co  
Sp Thomas Spackman
SR - Solomon Royes 
SR IED - Solomon Royes & John East Dix 
SR over CR - Roberts & Belks Limited 
SS - Stephen Smith 
SS over WN - Stephen Smith & William Nicolson 
SW - Samuel Whitford I 
SW - Samuel Wintle 
T & W  Turner & Williams
TB - Thomas Barker 
TB - Thomas Bradbury & Sons 
TC - Thomas Chawner 
TC WC Thomas & William Chawner
TC WC - Thomas & William Chawner 
TCS - T. Cox Savory 
TD - Thomas Dicks 
TE - Thomas Evans 
TE IL - Thomas Evans & Jacob Levi 
TF - Thomas Freeth 
TH Thomas Heming
TH - Thomas Harper I 
TH - Thomas Hayter 
TH - Thomas Heming 
TH GB - Thomas Northcote & George Bourne 
TH GH - Thomas & George Hayter 
TH IC Thomas Hannam & John Crouch
TH over GH - Thomas & George Hayter 
TH RM - Thomas Hannam & Richard Mills 
TK - Thomas Kirkham 
TL - Thomas Liddiard 
TM Makepeace
TN Thomas Northcote
TN - Thomas Northcote 
TO Thomas Oliphant
TP AH - Thomas Pratt & Arthur Humphreys 
TP EF - Thomas Purver & Edward Furnice 
TP ER Thomas Phipps & Edward Robinson
TP ER JP Thomas Phipps, Edward Robinson & James Phipps
TP IP Thomas & James Phipps
TP over ER - Thomas Phillips & Edward Robinson 
TR Thomas Robins
TR - Thomas Richards 
TS - Thomas Shepherd 
TS - Thomas Streetin 
TS over WS over HH - Thomas, Walter & Henry Holland 
TT - Thomas Tookey 
TW - Thomas Wallis 
TW - Thomas Wallis I 
TW - Thomas Wallis II 
TW - Thomas Whipham 
TW JH - Thomas Wallis II & Jonathan Hayne 
W&H - Walker & Hall 
WB William Burwash
WB - Wilkes Booth 
WB - William Bateman 
WB - William Burch 
WB - William Burwash 
WB over DB - William Bateman & Daniel Ball 
WB over RS - Wiliam Burwash & Richard Sibley 
WB -William Bateman I 
WBJ - Walter & John Bernard 
WBJ over MS - Edward Barnard & Sons  
WC William Cafe
WC - William Cattell 
WC - William Champion 
WC - William Chatterton 
WC - William Chawner 
WC - William Chawner II 
WE - William Eaton 
WE - William Eley II 
WE CE William, Charles & Henry Eley
WE GP William Eley & George Pierrepont
WE over WF - William Eley & Robert Fearn 
WE over WF over WC - William Eley, Robert Fearn & William Chawner 
WE Robert Eley 
WE WF - William Eley I & William Fearn 
WE WF WC - William Eley, William Fearn & William Chawner 
WF William Fearn
WF - William Fearn 
WF - William Fountain 
WF IF - William & John Fisher 
WF PS William Frisbee & Paul Storr
WG William Grundy
WG - William Goslee 
WG over JL - William Gibson & John Langman 
WHS - Searle & Company 
WI David Willaume
WK SK - William & Samuel Knight 
WP William Peaston or William Plummer
WP - William Pinder 
WP WW - William Playfair & William Wilson 
Wr & Hl - Walker & Hall 
WRS - W R Smiley 
WS - William Seaman 
WS - William Stroud 
WS - William Sumner 
WS - William Sumner I 
WS over CS - Walter & Charles Sissons 
WS over GS - Walter & George Sissons 
WS RC - William Sumner & Richard Crossley 
WS WP William Shaw & William Priest
WT William Tweedie
WT - Walter Thornhill 
WT - William Turton 
WT over RA - William Theobalds & Robert Atkinson 
WT WW - William Turton & William Walbancke

Birmingham Silver Makers:

A& over JZ - A & J Zimmerman Limited
aZ&J - as above
AC over MCo - Alexander Clark & Co Limited
AC co over ld - as above
AEJ - A. E. Jones
BC - Bernard Cuzner
BE over SCo - Baker Ellis Silver Company
B over GH over Ld - Birmingham Guild of Handicraft
C&B - Cocks & Bettridge
CJS - Cyril Siner
CT - Charles Thomas
D&F - Deakin & Francis Limited
D&H - Deakin & Harrison Limited
D&S - Deykin & Son
E&Co - Elkington & Co Limited
E& over Co - as above
EM & Co - Elkington Mason & Co Limited
ES - Edward Smith
ES - Edward Sawyer
ET - Edward Thomason
FC - Francis Clark
GN over RH - Nathan & Hayes
GU - George Unite
GW - Gervase Wheeler
H&H - Hujin & Heath Ltd
H&T - Hilliard & Thomason
HM - H. Matthews
IB - John Bettridge
IS - John Shaw
IT - Joseph Taylor
JA&S - Josiah Adams & sons
JB - Joseph Bettridge
JBC & S - JB Chatterley & Sons
JBC over &S over Ld - as above
JBC over B - as above
JH & Co - John Hardman & Co
JL - John Lawrence & Co
JTH over JHM - Heath & Middleton
JW - Joseph Willmore
L&C - Lea & Clark
L&C - W.Lea & Co
L&Co - Ledsam & Vale
L&Co - Liberty & Co
LS & Co - L. Smith & Co
LV & W - Ledsam, Vale & Wheeler
M&W - Mappin & Webb
MB - Matthew Boulton
MB IF - Matthew Bouton and John Fothergill
MB over IF - as above
ML - Matthew Linwood
N&H - Nathan & Hayes
NM - Nathaniel Mills
R over RW - Robert Welch
R over W - as above
RW - as above
SGM - Stanley Morris
SP - Samuel Pemberton
SW - Silver Workshop
T&P - Taylor & Perry
TK&S - Toye Kenning and Spencer
TP - Thomas Parsons
TS - Thomas Shaw
TW - Thomas Willmore
VB over &S - Vale Brothers and Sermon
w over ss H ld over & - William Hutton & Sons
Y&W - Yapp & Woodward

Sheffield Silver Makers Marks:

AB - A. Beardshaw
AG & Co - Alex Goodman & Co
CWF - Charles William Fletcher
DH & Co - Daniel Holy & Co
DS & C - Deakin Smith & Co
EM & Co - Elkington Mason & Co
GA over & Co - George Ashworth
GE & Co - George Eadon & Co
GH - Harrison Brothers & Howson
HA - Archer Machin & March
H&H - Howard & Hawksworth
HE over & Co - Hawkesworth, Eyre & Co
HT & Co - Hy Tudor & Co
HS - Henry Stratford
HT over TL - Tudor & Leader
HW - Lee & Wigfull
HW over & Co - Henry Wilkinson & Co
I & IW over & Co - Waterhouse, Hodson & Co
IE - I. Ellis & sons
IG & Co - John Green & Co
IH & Co - J Hoyland & Co
IH over Co - as above
IKIW&Co - Kirkby, Waterhouse & Co
IL&Co. - John Love & Co
IM - Jonathan Mappin
IP & Co - John Parsons & Co
IR & Co - John Roberts & Co
ITY over &Co - J T Younge & Co
ITY & Co - John Younge & Sons
IW & Co - John Winter & Co
JD over & S - James Deakin & Sons
JD&S - James Dixon & Son
JD over WD - James Deakin & Sons
JKB - Hawksworth, Eyre & Co. Ltd
JR - John Round & Son Ltd
M&W - Mappin & Webb
MB - Mappin Brothers
MF over &Co - M Fenton & Co
MF over RC - Fenton Creswick & Co
MH over & Co - Martin Hall & Co
MW & Co - Mappin & Webb
NS & Co - Nathaniel Smith & Co
R&B - Roberts & Belk
RM - Richard Morton & Co
RM over EH - Martin Hall & Co
SR&Co - S Roberts & Co
ST over N & H - Smith, Tate & Co
TA - Thomas Allen
TB over & S - Thomas Bradbury & Sons
TI over NC - TJ & N Creswick
TJ & NC - as above
TL - Thomas Lamborn
TL - Thomas Law
TW&Co - Thomas Watson & Co
W&H - Walker & Hall
WB over JA - W. Briggs & Co
WF over AF - Fordham & Faulkner
WS over GS - W & G Sissons

Newcastle Silver Makers Marks:

AK Alexander Kelty
AR Anne Robertson
Ba Francis Batty
Bi Eli Bilton
Bu John Buckle
CR - Christian ker Reid I
CJR Christian Reid Junior
CR DR  Christian & David Reid
CR IS Christian Reid & John Stoddart
DC David Crawford
DD David Darling
DD IB - David Darling & James Bell
DL Dorothy Langlands
DR David Reid
FB Francis Batty
GB George Bulman
GM - George Murray
IC - James Crawford
IC Isaac Cookson
IK James Kirkup
IL - John Langlands II
IR DD - John Robertson I & David Darling
IL IR John Langlands & John Robertson
IR IW - John Robertson & John Walton
IM John Mitchison
IR John Robertson
IS John Stoddart
IW John Walton
La John Langwith
L & S  Lister & Sons
MA Mary Ashworth
Ra John Ramsay
R & D  Robertson & Darling
RM Robert Makepeace
RP Pinkney & Scott
RP - Robert Pinkney I
RS Robert Scott
RW - Robert Wilson
TP Thomas Partis
TS Thomas Sewill
TW Thomas Watson
WL William Lister
WS IM - William Stalker & John Mitchison
Yo John Younghusband

Chester Silver Makers Marks:

B & F  Matthew Boulton & James Fothergill
Bi Charles Bird
BP Benjamin Pemberton
Bu Nathaniel Bullen
Du Bartholomew Duke
EM Edward Maddock
FB Francis Butt
GL George Lowe
GR George Roberts
GW George Walker
IB James Barton
IG John Gilbert
IL John & Thomas
TL  Lowe
IR John Richards
IW Joseph Walley
JA John Adamson
JC James Conway or John Coakley
JL John Lowe
JS John Sutters
NC Nicholas Cunliffe
Pe Peter Pemberton
RG Robert Green
RI Robert Jones
RL Robert Lowe
RP Richard Pike
RR Richard Richardson
TM Thomas Maddock
WH William Hull
WP William Pugh
WR William Richardson

York Silver Makers Marks:

HP&C - Hampston, Prince & Cattles - York
P&C - Prince & Cattles - York
RC JB - Robert Cattle & James Barber - York
RC - Richard Clark - York
RC - Robert Cattle - York
JB WN -James Barber & William North - York
JB - James Barber - York
JB WW - James Barber & William Whitwell - York
JB GC WN - James Barber, George Cattle & William North – York
Bu William Busfield
IH John Hampston
IP & John Prince
JB & Co James Barber & Co
JB James Barber
GC George Cattle
WN  William North
JB James Barber
WN William North
JB James Barber
WW William Whitwell
La John Langwith
Ma Thomas Mangy
P & Co John Prince
RC Robert Cattle
JB James Barber

Exeter Silver Makers Marks:

AR Peter Arno
DC Daniel Coleman
EI John Elston
FP - Francis Parsons
FP JG - Francis Parsons & Joseph Goss
FP SC - Francis Parsons & Stephen Creese
FR Richard Freeman
FT - Francis Trowbridge junior
GF George Ferris
GT George Turner
HS IS - Henry & John Sweet
IH - Jason Holt
IB John Buck
IE John Elston
IP Isaac Parkin
IW John Williams
JG FP - Francis Parsons & Joseph Goss
JH Joseph Hicks
JL - John Legg
JO John Osmont
JS John Stone or James Strong
JW - Josiah Williams
JW James Williams
JW & Co  James Whipple & Co
MO John Mortimer
RF Richard Ferris
Ri Edward Richards
RJ - Richard Jenkins
RS Richard Sams
R.W Robert Williams
SB Samuel Blachford
SL Simon Lery
Sy Pentycost Symonds
TB Thomas Blake
TE Thomas Eustace
TR George Trowbridge
TS Thomas Sampson
Wi Richard Wilcocks
WP William Parry or William Pearse or William Pope
WRS W R Sobey
WW William West
WW - William Welch

Edinburgh Silver Makers Marks:

AG & Co. - Alexander Gardner & Co. - Edinburgh
AG - Alexander Gairdner - Edinburgh
AS - Alexander Spence - Edinburgh
AZ - Alexander Zeigler - Edinburgh
FH - Francis Howden - Edinburgh
GB - George Bell - Edinburgh
IZ - John Zeigler - Edinburgh
JL - John Leslie? - Edinburgh
JM - Jonathan Millidge - Edinburgh
LB - Lindsay Beech - Edinburgh
MC - Matthew Craw? - Edinburgh
NP - Neil Paton? - Edinburgh
WPC - W&P Cunningham - Edinburgh
WR - William Robertson - Edinburgh
WZ - William Zeigler - Edinburgh

Glasgow Silver Makers Marks:

AM Alexander Mitchell
A & T  Aird & Thompson
DCR Duncan Rait
DMcD David McDonald
GT - George Thompson
JC James Crichton
JL John Law
JM John Mitchell or J Murray
LFN Luke Newlands
PA Peter Arthur
RG - Robert Gray
RG & S Robert Gray & Sons
WP WP William Parkins

Dublin Silver Makers Marks:

AK - Arthur Keen
AN - Ambrose Nicklin
BT - Benjamin Tait
CM - Charles Marsh
DP - Daniel Popkins
GN - George Nangle
IB - John Bolland
ID - John Dalrymple
IS - James Scott
JB - John Bolland
JK - John Kearns
JP - John Power
JS - James Salter
MK - Michael Keating
SN - Samuel Neville
TW - Thomas Williamson
WL - William Law

As already stated, these lists of makers marks are not complete, you will need a good silver hallmarks book like the ones listed on our antique silver books page for a comprehensive listing.

For a more comprehensive look at silver hallmarks please visit our sister site at www.silverhallmarks.org.uk

London Marks

Birmingham Marks

Chester Marks

Exeter Marks

Sheffield Marks

Newcastle Marks

York Marks

Edinburgh Marks

Glasgow Marks

Dublin Marks

To add your antique silver auction to dealers, buyers, and collectors, please contact us.

You can choose which section you want to look at from our drop down menus. For a more comprehensive look at these hallmarks please visit our sister site at www.silverhallmarks.org.uk

When you come across antique silver items at antiques fairs and in antiques shops you need to be able to estimate the date of an item, and therefore whether it’s priced correctly, without referring to your hallmarks book - which you probably won’t have with you!

You won’t be caught out with misidentified and mis-dated antiques with our simple & easy to remember method of roughly estimating an items age from it’s hallmarks that you can apply to almost any piece of English silver.

This ebook is only 5 A4 pages long, but it gets right to the point. There is no waffle, just the essentials of a few pieces of information that you need to remember to be able to quickly & fairly accurately date any item.

It is essential especially to new collectors of antique silver.

I have found this to be an invaluable aid & so offer it at the extremely low price of just £3.99, with an instant download once you have purchased it.

If you want to be able to quickly make a decision on whether or not to buy then this information is priceless.

The ebook will be emailed directly to you after payment, and it is just £3.99.

To sign up for one of our dedicated antique silver dealer pages for just £15 per month, then simply sign up using the button below and then contact us with the details that you would like us to add, including your text, images, logo, website address, email address, etc, and we’ll do the rest.

We’ll let you know once your page is live so that you can make sure you’re happy with it.

If you have any queries or questions then please feel free to contact us.