posted 04-24-2018 02:16 PM            

Could you please take a moment and click on the link in the big green box that is at the top of every page - the link that says "To successfully join in, you must know the following!" and read through the instructions there. In particular could you please add to your question a response to the part that says:

"In your first post:
1.Please introduce yourself
• Tell everyone about yourself, your interests in silver,
• And why you are posting - are you a collector, are you learning more about your inheritance from your granny so you will have more appreciation as you use it, are you looking to sell the object at some point in the near future, etc.
- We're not being snoopy; knowing will help us help you and to welcome you to our small community.

2.Post a picture
• It's not hard and will go a long way to getting other members to respond.
• Everything you need to know can be found in How to Post Photos (click here).
• If you can't take a photo, try a drawing."

As a beginning response, there is no such thing as American hallmarks as there has been relatively lax oversight on silver purity, unlike the UK. Most American makers added various non-hallmark markings, usually including ones indicating silver purity and maker, and sometimes the retail store added their own. Also, early American silver that is often made from so called 'coin silver' is usually not stamped out - it is hand forged, hammered, and planished. The purity of the silver in so called 'coin silver' is normally anywhere between 80 percent and 95 percent with most of it more in the range of 90 percent, give or take a couple of percent one way or the other. By comparison, Sterling is 92.5 percent exactly. Once you get into the Victorian era most silver is die forged and hand finished.

Good clear photos of the overall pieces of silver and also any markings on it are an absolute must since there are sop many different markings on silver and many have similar looks to them. Also, there are forged markings on some silver, not just American but every other kind as well including British. Seeing the object is just as important as seeing the markings. There is a very large amount of silver plated American silver as well and the lack of any advertised silver purity on an object can mean that it is plated, though not always, especially with early American silver.

posted 04-24-2018 03:00 PM            

My name is David and I am living in London, UK. I am a private collector in a few focussed areas - wristwatches, things related to drinking (like victorian wine glasses, decanters, cocktail shakers), and wine. I have a limited collection of silver, mostly tableware which we use rather than anything in a cabinet, and wine related silver like drip coasters and decanter labels.

I bought these service spoons at auction here in the UK, but have not been able to find where they are from, and/or who the maker might be. They measure abut 8" in length.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[This message has been edited by buddman (edited 04-24-2018).]