![]() ![]() A stamp indicating the purity of the silver is called the assayer's mark.Marks indicate it is Britannia gauge silver made by (or for) Paul de Lamerie (taken to or) in London and dated 1732 (it could have been made a year or two earlier than 1732). London assay office hallmarks on the back of a waiter, or small square salver. Since 2015 visually identical UK Hallmarks are being struck in India and Italy by sub-offices of Birmingham & Sheffield Assay Offices respectively: These five nations have, historically, provided a wealth of information about a piece through their series of applied punches. One of the most highly structured hallmarking systems in the world is that of the United Kingdom, (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland), and Ireland. ![]() The hallmark for sterling silver varies from nation to nation, often using distinctive historic symbols, although Dutch and UK Assay offices no longer strike their traditional hallmarks exclusively in their own territories and undertake assay in other countries using marks that are the same as those used domestically. Therefore, hallmarking is generally done before the piece goes for its final polishing. Hallmarks are applied with a hammer and punch, a process that leaves sharp edges and spurs of metal. In some countries, the testing of silver objects and marking of purity is controlled by a national assayer's office. 1680 maker's mark on base of a candlestick, for Robert Cooper, LondonĪ silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other (optional) markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece. ![]()
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