1899 Birmingham Hallmarked Sterling Silver Salt Cellars
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- 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.
- 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.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Pair of George III sterling silver salt cellars hallmarked 1792, maker: Henry Chawner, 150 grams
A sterling silver goblet and pierced dish, late 19th century to early 20th century. a pierced double handled small bowl with a pierced frieze with maker's marks for William Drummond & Co, and a small 1928 tennis trophy goblet with marks for Stokes & Sons;
Indian silver four piece tea set, comprising teapot, twin handled sugar bowl, creamer and slops bowl, of baluster form, decorated with repeating roundels of deities, total weight 800gms
A boxed sterling silver cruet set, 1931 Birmingham, with maker's marks for Adie Brothers Ltd, the set comprising a salt, small pillar pepperette and a lidded mustard pot with associated spoons, of simple drum form with threaded stepped bases and low domed