Victorian Silver Forks Set with Hallmarks (24)
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.
- Victorian Period - The Victorian period of furniture and decorative arts design covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. There was not one dominant style of furniture in the Victorian period. Designers used and modified many historical styles such as Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others, although use of some styles, such as English Rococo and Gothic tended to dominate the furniture manufacture of the period.
The Victorian period was preceded by the Regency and William IV periods, and followed by the Edwardian period, named for Edward VII (1841 ? 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910. - 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.
Visually similar items
Assorted English silver spoons, marks of various silversmiths, London, Exter, c. 1779-1850, hallmarked (10), approx. Weight 393 grams. Provenance: The Estate of Charles (Ruthven) Blackburn
An extensive silver-plate Kings pattern cutlery set for ten, with 12 soup spoons, 12 dessert spoons, 7 serving spoons, 14 teaspoons, 12 dinner & entree forks, 9 dinner knives, 3 entree knives & 3 bread knives
Twelve George III sterling silver table spoons, mark of William Eley & William Fearn, London, 1813 and 1814. Fiddle pattern, hallmarked (12). Approx. Weight 776 grams
Collection of Victorian silver spoons including twelve dinner spoons, twelve soup spoons and thirteen coffee spoons, hallmarked (37). Total weight of 1418 grams