In England, silver items are stamped with hallmarks to certify their authenticity, quality, and origin. These marks have a long history, and each one represents a specific piece of information. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of silver hallmarks in England:
- Sponsor’s Mark: This is a unique mark that identifies the individual or company responsible for the item. The sponsor’s mark is usually a symbol, initials, or a combination of both. This mark ensures accountability and traceability.
- Assay Office Mark: This mark shows where the item was tested and verified for its silver content. In England, there are several assay offices that are represented by symbols. The most prominent are:
- London: A leopard’s head
- Birmingham: An anchor
- Sheffield: A rose
- Edinburgh: A thistle
- Bristol: A crown (though it ceased operation in 1975)
- Fineness Mark: This number indicates the purity of the silver. In England, sterling silver must be at least 92.5% pure silver, and the hallmark will usually feature the number 925 or .925. Some other common purity marks are:
- 999: Fine silver (99.9% pure)
- 800: Coin silver (80% pure)
- Date Letter: This mark indicates the year the item was assayed. It is a letter in a specific font and style that corresponds to a particular year. The system has changed over time, and a new letter is used each year. For example, “A” might represent 2025, while “B” could represent the following year.
- Duty Mark (Historically): Between 1784 and 1890, a duty mark was required to show that the government tax on silver items had been paid. This typically took the form of a portrait of the reigning monarch (such as King George III or Queen Victoria). However, this mark is no longer required since the tax was abolished in 1890.
Example of a Full English Hallmark: An item might have a stamp that looks like this:
- Lion Passant (Sterling mark)
- Leopard’s Head (London Assay Office)
- 925 (Fineness mark)
- Date Letter ‘X’ (Year of assay)
- Sponsor’s Mark (Initials or symbol of the maker)
In England, silver items are stamped with hallmarks to certify their authenticity, quality, and origin. These marks have a long history, and each one represents a specific piece of information. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of silver hallmarks in England:
- Sponsor’s Mark: This is a unique mark that identifies the individual or company responsible for the item. The sponsor’s mark is usually a symbol, initials, or a combination of both. This mark ensures accountability and traceability.
- Assay Office Mark: This mark shows where the item was tested and verified for its silver content. In England, there are several assay offices that are represented by symbols. The most prominent are:
- London: A leopard’s head
- Birmingham: An anchor
- Sheffield: A rose
- Edinburgh: A thistle
- Bristol: A crown (though it ceased operation in 1975)
- Fineness Mark: This number indicates the purity of the silver. In England, sterling silver must be at least 92.5% pure silver, and the hallmark will usually feature the number 925 or .925. Some other common purity marks are:
- 999: Fine silver (99.9% pure)
- 800: Coin silver (80% pure)
- Date Letter: This mark indicates the year the item was assayed. It is a letter in a specific font and style that corresponds to a particular year. The system has changed over time, and a new letter is used each year. For example, “A” might represent 2025, while “B” could represent the following year.
- Duty Mark (Historically): Between 1784 and 1890, a duty mark was required to show that the government tax on silver items had been paid. This typically took the form of a portrait of the reigning monarch (such as King George III or Queen Victoria). However, this mark is no longer required since the tax was abolished in 1890.
Example of a Full English Hallmark: An item might have a stamp that looks like this:
- Lion Passant (Sterling mark)
- Leopard’s Head (London Assay Office)
- 925 (Fineness mark)
- Date Letter ‘X’ (Year of assay)
- Sponsor’s Mark (Initials or symbol of the maker)
These hallmarks are essential for verifying the authenticity and quality of silver items, and they have been used in England for centuries.
The Date Letters in English silver hallmarks represent the year in which the silver item was assayed. These letters follow a specific alphabetic system and change each year, with a new letter used to represent each calendar year. The system has evolved over time, and different fonts and styles have been used throughout history.
Here’s a list of Date Letters for English silver hallmarks from 1700 to the present (as of 2025). Note that the letters for each year repeat in a cyclical pattern and exclude the letters I, J, O, Q, U, and Z to avoid confusion with similar-looking characters.
Date Letters for Silver Hallmarks (1700–2025)
- 1700–1799:
- 1700: A
- 1701: B
- 1702: C
- 1703: D
- 1704: E
- 1705: F
- 1706: G
- 1707: H
- 1708: K
- 1709: L
- 1710: M
- 1711: N
- 1712: P
- 1713: R
- 1714: S
- 1715: T
- 1716: V
- 1717: W
- 1718: X
- 1719: Y
- 1720: Z
- 1800–1899:
- 1800: A
- 1801: B
- 1802: C
- 1803: D
- 1804: E
- 1805: F
- 1806: G
- 1807: H
- 1808: J
- 1809: K
- 1810: L
- 1811: M
- 1812: N
- 1813: P
- 1814: R
- 1815: S
- 1816: T
- 1817: U
- 1818: V
- 1819: W
- 1820: X
- 1900–1999:
- 1900: A
- 1901: B
- 1902: C
- 1903: D
- 1904: E
- 1905: F
- 1906: G
- 1907: H
- 1908: J
- 1909: K
- 1910: L
- 1911: M
- 1912: N
- 1913: P
- 1914: R
- 1915: S
- 1916: T
- 1917: U
- 1918: V
- 1919: W
- 1920: X
- 1921: Y
- 1922: Z
- 1923: A
- 1924: B
- 2000–2025:
- 2000: A
- 2001: B
- 2002: C
- 2003: D
- 2004: E
- 2005: F
- 2006: G
- 2007: H
- 2008: J
- 2009: K
- 2010: L
- 2011: M
- 2012: N
- 2013: P
- 2014: R
- 2015: S
- 2016: T
- 2017: U
- 2018: V
- 2019: W
- 2020: X
- 2021: Y
- 2022: Z
- 2023: A
- 2024: B
- 2025: C
Notes:
- The letters are used in a cycle, so after Z, the cycle starts again with A.
- Different assay offices in England use the same letter for a given year, but the font or style of the letter may vary based on the time period.
Major English Silver Makers and Their Hallmarks/Company Names
- Gorham Manufacturing Company
- Founded: 1831 (U.S.-based but significant in English silver market)
- Hallmarks: Gorham’s trademarks typically include “Gorham” or a maker’s mark with a symbol, often including the year of production.
- Stuart Devlin
- Founded: 1960s
- Hallmarks: Devlin’s work often features his signature stamp with “Devlin” or the “S” mark along with a hallmark that includes the year and the Assay Office symbol.
- Paul Storr
- Period: Late 18th to early 19th century
- Hallmarks: The famous silversmith Paul Storr used his own distinctive maker’s mark: “PS” or “P. Storr.”
- Francis Higgins
- Period: 18th century
- Hallmarks: Marks typically include his name or initials, “FH” or “F. Higgins.”
- Thomas Bradbury & Sons
- Founded: 1880s
- Hallmarks: The hallmark typically includes “Thomas Bradbury & Sons” along with the Assay Office mark.
- William Hutton & Sons
- Founded: 1800s
- Hallmarks: Hutton’s hallmark includes the company name “William Hutton & Sons” along with the Assay Office mark (London or Sheffield, for example).
- C. J. Vander
- Founded: 19th century (specializing in high-quality silverware)
- Hallmarks: Typically, “C.J.V.” or “C.J. Vander” in addition to the Assay Office mark.
- Edward Barnard & Sons
- Founded: 1829
- Hallmarks: The hallmark includes “Edward Barnard & Sons” and the Assay Office mark. This company is known for producing fine-quality pieces, including high-end flatware and hollowware.
- Asprey & Co.
- Founded: 1781
- Hallmarks: Asprey’s hallmark includes their name “Asprey” and the Assay Office mark. Asprey is renowned for producing luxury silver goods, jewelry, and fine gifts.
- Harris & Sons
- Founded: 19th century
- Hallmarks: Their hallmark typically includes “Harris & Sons” or “H & S” with the Assay Office symbol.
- Cartier
- Founded: 1847 (French company but with a significant presence in London)
- Hallmarks: Cartier’s silver items will often have their distinctive company marks, such as “Cartier” with the Assay Office and purity marks.
- John Pinches Ltd.
- Founded: 1960s
- Hallmarks: John Pinches was known for making commemorative silver coins, awards, and fine silver objects. His hallmark includes “John Pinches” and the appropriate Assay Office mark.
- S. J. Phillips
- Founded: 1851
- Hallmarks: The hallmark includes the company’s name “S. J. Phillips” along with the Assay Office mark, typically seen on high-end antique silver objects.
- Georg Jensen
- Founded: 1904 (Danish company with a significant presence in London)
- Hallmarks: “Georg Jensen” and the Assay Office mark. Georg Jensen is known for its Scandinavian-inspired designs, often used in luxury silverware.
- Mappin & Webb
- Founded: 1775
- Hallmarks: The hallmark usually includes “Mappin & Webb” along with the Assay Office mark. This company is known for luxury silverware, jewelry, and fine gifts.
- Barker Brothers
- Founded: 19th century
- Hallmarks: The hallmark typically includes the company’s name “Barker Brothers” or “B.B.” and the Assay Office mark.
- William Comyns & Sons
- Founded: 19th century
- Hallmarks: Marks include “William Comyns” or simply “W. Comyns” with the Assay Office mark. The company was known for producing fine silver flatware and hollowware.
- James Dixon & Sons
- Founded: 1806
- Hallmarks: The hallmark features “James Dixon & Sons” and the Assay Office mark. Known for making high-quality silverware, particularly in Sheffield.
- Sotherby’s
- Founded: 1744 (auction house known for silver sales)
- Hallmarks: Their auctioned items will typically bear the hallmark of the silversmith who crafted them, but Sotherby’s itself has been instrumental in handling high-end silver sales.
- Hawksworth, Eyre & Co.
- Founded: 19th century
- Hallmarks: The hallmark includes “Hawksworth, Eyre & Co.” with the Assay Office mark. Known for their elegant and decorative pieces of silver.