George IV Berry Spoons with Floral and Fruit Motifs
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- Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
- Engraving - The method of decorating or creating inscriptions on silver and other metal objects by marking the surface with a sharp instrument such as a diamond point or rotating cutting wheel.
- Hallmarks - A mark stamped on articles of precious metals in Britain, since the 14th century, certifying their purity. It derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay (test the purity) and mark articles of gold and silver.
The hallmark will consist of several marks, including the:
- silver standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal. Sterling silver is .925 pure silver.
- the city mark indicating the city in which it was assayed eg London, Birmingham, York etc.
- the date mark, usually a letter of the alphabet in a particular font and case,
- a duty mark, indicating whether duty had been paid to the crown, and only in use from 1784 to 1890
The piece may include an additional mark, the maker's mark, although not forming part of the hallmark, will be located in the vicinity of the hallmarks.
Sometimes silver plated items will bear faux hallmarks, often confusing those not familiar with silver markings. - Embossed / Repousse - Embossing, also known as repousse, is the technique of decorating metal with raised designs, by pressing or beating out the design from the reverse side of the object.It is the opposite of chasing, where the decoration is applied from the front. An embossed or repoussed object may have chasing applied to finish off the design.
- George Iv - George IV (1762 ? 1830) was king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and king of Hanover from 1820, until his own death in 1830. From 1811 until his accession in 1820, he served as Prince Regent during his father's final mental illness.
In English furniture design, his reign from 1811 to 1830 is known as the Regency period.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Pair of George IV sterling silver berry Spoons, hallmarked, London, 1827, W.S (possibly William Sumner), with tapering engraved handles, above gilt shaped bowls, embossed fruit and foliage, total weight 111gm, length 22 cm (2)
Pair of George III sterling silver berry spoons, hallmarked, London, 1791, G.G (George Gray), this maker often overstruck on the work of Bateman, it is possible that this is one such example, with engraved handles, and shaped gilt bowls embossed with fruit
Pair of George III sterling silver berry spoons, hallmarked, London, 1771, T.D (Thomas Dealtry), with tapering handles, with engraved crest and scroll work, above gilt bowls embossed with fruit, total weight 142gm, length 21 cm (2)
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