English Hallmarks


Of all of the subjects within collecting antique silver, none can be more daunting than learning and understanding the hallmark system.

This will be a basic overview of how the hallmark system works and some history about the system and then we will expand on this further in future articles.

The English hallmark system is a system of identifying, taxing and controlling silver production. While the hallmarking system can be traced to the early 1200’s, the system did not really become standardized as we know it today until 1702. We will confine our review to the antique system which was used from 1784 until 1837 and its major components. It is interesting to note, that it is still used today, albeit in a modified form.


                  Click Pic For Larger View

When attempting to establish the authenticity of any piece of antique English silver, it is essential that the marks be intact and that they are verifiable. Just so you are aware, it is not uncommon to find authentic pieces, where the marks have been rubbed through years of diligent polishing. While the piece may still be beautiful, this does greatly reduce its value.

The Basics

Any piece of antique English silver made between the years of 1784 and 1837 should have the following marks:

Makers Mark- This is the mark of the maker and identifies that this piece was made in the workshop of this maker. In some cases it may have been completely produced from start to finish by this maker, or in many cases it was produced in the workshop and overseen by the maker, and may have been finished by the primary maker. Since many makers produced multiple pieces, this is not unusual and it does not reduce the value. However, as with any collectable, the rarer the item and the rarer the maker the more valuable.

Date Letter: This is the stylized letter which denotes the year in which the piece was made. Since the letters are reused year after year, it is important to carefully look at the style and design of the letter to ascertain the exact year. In addition, it is good to cross reference the date that you believe a piece to be with the maker’s mark and the date that mark was first registered. For example, if you believe you have a piece by the famous Paul Storr and the date mark looks to be 1755, this is impossible as Paul Storr’s mark was not entered with the London Guild until 1792 along with his partner William Frisbee.

Lion Passant: This mark is essential to identify that the piece is pure sterling silver. Any piece of English silver must have this mark, or it is not pure silver and may be plated.           Click Pic For Larger View

City Mark: This will tell you in which city the piece was manufactured, such as London, Sheffield, Chester, Exeter etc. London marks tend to be the most desirable on the mass market, however, many fine pieces were produced in Ireland, in particular Dublin and in Edinburgh, Scotland. The London mark is probably the best known and it is the “Leopard’s Head Crowned”. Please note that on pieces made from 1821 onwards, the leopard’s head is uncrowned.

Duty Mark: This may be the trickiest of the marks, as this can be difficult to identify and it some cases, the pieces were made, but the duty was not paid, thus the phrase, “duty dodging”. The lack of a duty mark does not mean that a piece is fraudulent, but it does mean that some caution is in order. Some makers are known for their tendency to “forget” to pay the duty and any good book outlining maker’s marks will note this. Prior to 1784 duty marks were not struck, so lack of this mark on an earlier piece is not an issue.

With this, I will bring this brief overview to a close. While this is only the basics, it gives you a good start to begin to explore the exciting world of antique English silver. If you are interested in further study, or are interested in purchasing a reference book for yourself (by the way, if you are serious about collecting, I highly recommend this), I can suggest the following books:

Jackson’s Hallmarks, edited by Ian Pickford

London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837, Their Marks and Lives, by Arthur G. Grimwade


by Charles Cook

Reprinted with permission
Copyright by Charles Cook ©

Should you be interested in viewing our antique silver pieces, please visit us at the www.thelionpassant.com or contact us at thelionpassant@charter.net

Do you know something about silver antiques?
Publish your articles here.