For example, sterling silver is 925 which indicates that 92. All about antique silver with international hallmarks. The shield design around the assay office mark may vary according to whether the article is. This is the basic reference throughout the silver hallmarks world. A book about the international silver company, taylor publishing, 1977.
From pharaohs, roman emperors and continuing today, fineness, or standard marks, have been used to guarantee minimum amounts of precious metal in relation to nonprecious metal. Hopi jewelry hopi gold hopi silver kopavi international. The rest of the book is dedicated to international silver hallmarks. This is an international collection of silver assay hallmarks, by country and region when specified. International silver company retailer sterling silver flatware. Discovering hallmarks on english silver by john bly this book not only tabulates the hallmarks that enable the identification of silver items but also traces the history of english silver, describing some famous makers and provides hints on spotting fakes. International hallmarks on silver collected by tardy reprint ed. This book, nicely illustrated in black and white, treats of both hollowware and flatware. The businesses that merged to form the new company produced about 70 percent of the silverware manufactured in the u. The keystone jewelry trade mark book, 1934 edition. History and marks the international silver company was formed in 1898 by various independent new england silversmiths that joined themselves together to form a company that became the worlds largest manufacturer of silverware. The book of old silver, english american foreign, with all available hallmarks including sheffield plate marks. Included are hallmark specifications, properties and changes that occurred over time.
The book includes more than 400 photographs, a listing of hallmarks used by mexican silversmiths, and a value reference guide. This is an international collection of silver assay hall. Strike is the actual stamping of an impression onto a tested metal and the resulting placement and quality of that impression. Fineness mark this important mark will tell you what type of metal it is as well as the purity. Today the company is a part lifetime sterling, a division of lifetime brands inc lifetime sterling is a proud guardian of america. International silver company retailer sterling silver. The shield design around the assay office mark may vary according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. Ever since its publication in 1905, english goldsmiths and their marks, or jacksons, has been the bible for scholars, dealers and collectors, selling in.
The 2001 and 2006 editions both now outofprint were. The title of this book is international hallmarks on silver collected by tardy and it was written by tardy. Mark on a silver cover of a prayers book dated 1910. The book is fully crossreferenced and indexed for quick and handy searches. The shield design around the assay office mark may vary.
How to identify a silver piece hallmarks scottish silver. A new touchstone for gold and silver wares, william babcock goldsmith 1708. Brittania silver is an alloy made of 95% silver, which exceeds the requirement for sterling silver. It helps you to determine the piece youve bought or you intend to buy. The international silver company was formed in 1898 by various independent new england silversmiths that joined themselves together to form a company that became the worlds largest manufacturer of silverware. The index in the back offers description indexing along with letters and words. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Marks on precious metals have been regulated by law since ancient times.
A 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. Since 1972 the united kingdom has been a signatory to the international convention on hallmarks. International hallmarks on silver collected by tardy by tardy. Any mark indicating a higher silver content, such as 950, would also qualify as sterling. Discover the difference between silver items and items that just look like silver identify important construction techniques and understand how they effect quality. Isbn 9780971120235 9780971120235 softcover, t b r international, incorporated, 20. This is the standard for silver, identifying a silver item that is at least 92. See all books authored by bille hougart, including little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks, and native american and southwestern silver hallmarks, and more on. International hallmarks on silver collected by tardy book.
Another point is that the book is not about silversmiths. Jordan 1949 handbook of american silver and pewter marks. Silver reference books encyclopedia of silver marks, hallmarks. Collecting antique silver incl plated sheffield types. I am very pleased to own a copy of all about antique silver. Circa date a piece of silver and identify the maker know what makes a piece collectible and why. The traditional method of marking is by hand punches, and is still the favoured method. It is regularly updated as we find and photograph new examples of silver hallmarks and makers marks. If you are a jeweler, or an antique dealer, or silver collector, etc.
More editions of the little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks. How to read english british sterling silver marks the uk system of hallmarks from the end of the 12th century the craft of silversmith has been regulated in conformity with royal ordinances and acts of the parliament. T b r international, incorporated, 20 little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks by bille hougart excellent. To navigate the site, it is easiest to use the green menu bar at the top of the screen. The hallmark is a picture or number that reveals the precise. It reads early american, then the is symbol, then international silver company, a number 43, and 18 in. This book is a must for anyone interested in learning more about mexican silver, taxco silver designers, and william spratling. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. Its main aim is to give a good basic knowledge and to introduce the kind of silverware that the average person can afford. When the international silver company formed in 1898, it was already a colossus. Base metals were added to the bullion, or precious metal, to increase the coins strength. Buy english silver hallmarks dealer guides illustrated edition by judith banister isbn. This handysized guide is drawn from the extensively revised edition of jacksons silver and gold marks of england, scotland and ireland, published by the antique collectors club in 1989.
Understanding british hallmarks the 8 hallmarks that guarantee the quality and value on uk assayed products. The letter at top indicates town, a vienna, year 1857 austriahungary austrohungarian hallmarks 18661922 austria austrian hallmarks after 1922 belgium top left 1831 1868, second standard mark for. The international silver company was formed in 1898, and was once the larget silver company in the world. How to identify international hallmarks is about how hallmarks on gold and silver products are standardized in europe, and how to recogonize international hallmarks and understand the date and purity of these metals. Buy millers encyclopedia of world silver marks 01 by miller, judith, campbell, duncan isbn. Hand book to foreign hall marks on gold and silver plate christopher alexander markham, f.
International hallmarks on silver collected by tardy. Buy english silver hallmarks dealer guides illustrated edition by judith banister, judith banister isbn. These world hallmark books provide more insight about precious metal hallmarks from 19th to 21st centuries and from more countries around the world than any other publication available today. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks. International hallmarks on silver collected by tardy by. List of gold maker marks hallmarking in sweden antique. Guide to world hallmarks i encyclopedia of silver marks. Peter charles faberge mark gorham athenic hallmark international silver. There is not a lot of choice available for english language speakers interested in foreign silver marks.
Yet this reduction in the purity of the silver also reduced the coins value. The international hallmarks on silver is a must, once you collect antiquer silver. A reprint of the 2002 edition, this book is certainly the most informative for. In recent years, it has been folded into the lifetime brands family of products, which include wallace and towle silversmiths. Confusing marks on sterling silver and silver plate. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Hallmarks began as a means of noting the silver content of coins. It was published by seven hills books and has a total of 552 pages in the book. The books 5s approach to identifying hallmarks stands for strike, shape, style, standard, and system. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Book series covering gold, silver, platinum, and palladium hallmarks, these books document hallmarking countries from around the world. Austrohungarian hallmarks 18661922 austria austrian hallmarks after 1922 belgium top left 1831 1868, second standard mark for.
Identification hallmarking research guides at state. French hallmarks online encyclopedia of silver marks, hallmarks. International hallmarks how to identify the international hallmarks on gold, silver and platinum products. In some countries, the testing of silver objects and marking of purity is controlled by a. Bille hougart books list of books by author bille hougart. Commissioned by kopavi, the kopavifluteplayer is an original design by hopi bear clan member delbridge honanie. Pressmarking is an automated form of hand marking but in the 21 st century marking by laser is also an option. Conversely, convention hallmarks that have been applied in other member countries are recognised in the uk. Hallmark wikipedia, the free encyclopedia french hallmarks hallmarking in france antique books silver, gold, platinum identifying metalwork by its hallmarks official french hallmarks used. In england the craft was regulated by the guild of goldsmiths at london and in ireland by the guild of dublin. No book does, but it includes more than any of the others, and it is set up for easy reference. Rare gold and silver hallmarks hallmarks used for events, dates or hallmarks that are no longer made. The book s 5s approach to identifying hallmarks stands for strike, shape, style, standard, and system.
This silver qualifies as sterling, but it is slightly softer than sterling pieces marked 925 or simply sterling sterling silver 925. A discussion started in 2005 but continuing through 2019. Hecho en mexico by hougart, bille and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The little book of mexican silver trade and hallmark. The site is intended for international use and, although it is written in english, much of the information should be comprehensible to foreign language. Silver marked in convention countries bears a makers mark, a common control mark, a purity mark and a country mark. Some of the assay office marks of member countries of the convention are illustrated below. The title of this book is native american and southwestern silver hallmarks and it was written by bille hougart. The international silver company was formed in connecticut in 1898 when various independent new england silversmiths joined together to form what became the world. Jan 01, 1985 international hallmarks on silver book. Native american and southwestern silver hallmarks by bille.
1404 1518 1376 955 385 1564 1037 1421 662 519 33 500 1493 675 75 827 1026 26 1334 701 1508 1286 1230 442 657 426 275 1568 353 1044 913 858 39 493 1439 113 1413 87 123 328