posted 10-04-2009 12:36 AM            

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone out there is a bit of a Channel Islands silver expert.

I got this pair of salts a few weeks back, they were labelled as Guernsey made. Indeed, the makers mark does seem to match Pierre Maingy . Its interesting the way the marks (they are done the same way on both salts) are made to look a lot more like British marks than is normally done on CI silver. In Mayne's book, there are no salts like these listed by this maker (although he did make other salts) and indeed they are a style a bit later than this maker was known to be working. Style wise they would date to around 1770's on the mainland, and normally the provincial makers were a few years behind London.

Any thoughts?

Ben

posted 10-08-2009 08:27 AM            

Thanks for that...that will teach me for assuming before reading carefully!

I'll try and borrow a camera to get a better shot.

As for me...I've been collecting silver since I was in high school...I love it! I've been doing a bit of buying and selling in my spare time to try and help fund the habit a bit and to keep improving my collection.

I collect mainly Irish, Channel Islands and Australian silver. A strange combination at first glance! But it is because I enjoy collecting based on my heritage. I'm an Australian with Irish blood on one side and Channel Islands on the other. I love the idea of owning things that were around when my ancestors were!

Anyways, I look forward to earning my place beyond the newbie section (will help if I read the proper info!)

Cheers,

posted 10-08-2009 09:09 AM            

I wish I could help on your question but I don't know Channel Island silver - I am sure some of the others here can help, especially if you can post some clear closeups of the markings. Are you using the macro setting on your camera? If you use the macro you should be able to get your lens down to within an inch or so of the markings and get a nice sharp photo. Also, if you shine a light from the side it should help give a bit of extra definition to the raised markings.

posted 10-16-2009 10:54 PM            

Here is a much better picture (I got a new camera for my birthday! Unfortunately, I also got an Xbox360, so have been very distracted!). I'm not sure if the liners are original, I'm still working out how to tell.

Hope someone can help with the hallmarks.

Ben

posted 10-17-2009 07:47 AM            

P.S. I should have added that a quick flick through my reference books suggests that salts of this form had appeared on the mainland by the mid 1760s though they may have been more common later.