posted 10-27-2006 03:06 PM            

From prior postings, should I presume that any such small items missing the town mark (and in this case the crowned leopard's head as well) are from London?

I am asking because the only maker's mark I have found like this one is for John Langlands of Newcastle (but Wyler's book has this mark of his being entered in approximately 1809-10 and the king's head looks different in the Wyler book - my king head looks more like the London mark but the date mark looks more like the 1804-5 newcastle mark which appears to pre-date this particular Langlands mark!).

Have I confused you as much as I have confused myself?

Essentially, if there is no town mark, does it mean necessarily London? And, what about the missing Crowned Leopard's head?

posted 10-27-2006 03:52 PM            

We really need photos of the item and the mark to help you. We also ask new members to tell us a bit about themselves and their interest in collecting.

While it is often the case that pieces missing a town mark were made in London, there appear to have been exceptions. I recall from one thread that Newcastle may indeed be one of them. Wyler is not the best source on English silver. Try Jackson or one of the other sources listed on the library page.

All the best,
Tom

posted 10-27-2006 08:54 PM            

Now, about myself, hmmm, well I am a novice at collecting silver - indeed, I would call myself a serial collector (I start collecting one thing then move on to another)!. So, I have many small, varied collections (from the rocks and Nancy Drew books I collected as a child to Rudolstadt porcelain, etc. etc., and now to the silver I am now trying to acquire).

I started with a couple of french pieces this Summer and trying to figure out the marks intrigued me and spurred me on to learn more about silver. Also, I purchased another small, beautiful teaspoon and was happy to later learn that it is a Peter, Ann and William Bateman spoon! So another element in this collecting is the hunt for something truly beautiful that has a documented history.

Really, however, I am collecting silver not for the sake of collecting but with the intent to use and enjoy it (however, this does mean my trying to figure out modern uses for pieces that no longer are as relevant as they were - e.g., I now have to start serving bon bons at tea or figure out another use for my french bon bon server!!!).

Thanks again for the information and I will try to get better sources from the library and post photos when I can.