Topaz ring best of thin blue line for her accessories. Easy visual identification guides and searchable databases to research and date jewelry of all styles and metals, incl. Once you have received your silver salon forum password, and then if you abide by the silver salon forum guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the new members forum. Costume jewelry marks c information and images contained in researching costume jewelry rcj were created by illusion jewels and are currently maintained and updated by costume jewelry collectors intl cjci. The date letter stamp, a requirement for british jewelry until 1999, is useful to know if you need to date a piece of vintage or retro jewelry. Henry aka herman bogoff 1905 1957, a polish immigrant, founded the spear novelty company and the gay bee novelty jewelry company with his wife yvette. Patent numbers are especially helpful when dating older vintage jewelry, and will be covered in a separate article in this series. Aug 19, 2014 a makers mark can help but if jewelry has hallmarks, this process is almost foolproof. An alphabetical index of makers would be incredibly useful, but alas, there isnt one. Because its stamped sterling, its most likely made after going to the sterling silver standard, dating the piece between 1927 and 1930. A makers mark is a stamp of a charm makers logo or initials found on some charms which identifies who the designer or maker is.
Silver markings on jewelry sterling silver markings what they. See more ideas about makers mark, silver and vintage costumes. Only with clear pictures attached please, im not a mindreader. Aug 24, 2019 originally published by dotty stringfield on. The marks on silver and sterling silver jewelry from mexico may reveal the age, silver content and origin of the piece. The little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks by billie hougart is essential for identifying mexican jewelry. Ever since its publication in 1905, english goldsmiths and their marks, or jacksons, has been the bible for scholars, dealers and collectors, selling in hundreds of thousands. Makers mark handmade kentucky straight bourbon whisky. Jewelry makers marks identification guide gold stamp list. Researching costume jewelry history, companies and signatures. How to identify your silver marks and hallmarks on silverplate and sterling silver. Hallmarks on mexican silver jewelry native american.
Researching costume jewelry history, companies and. The new collector should focus first on trying to identify whether the item is in fact a silver item. Compared to english pewter which may not be marked or it may have anywhere from two to six touch marks. How to easily identify a modern first edition book. This set of marks combines the circle gi mark with georg jensen mark from 19151930. You can look for marks, but frequently the jewelry only bears the mark of the company they worked for. There is very little information about the designer or design mark bsk, either online or in research books.
Ive seen one reference book listing the 1970s, but most. Your help will be appreciated to name the following hallmarks. Jewelry maker s mark maker s marks are the initials or name of the manufacturing firm or other representative symbol stamped into a gold, silver or platinum item. Jun 11, 2018 introduction to antique silver makers marks antiques hunter. The sites main focus is the silver markings used on vintage and antique sterling and coin silver, for those of you interested in silverplate trademarks, we have now added a large section. A makers mark can help but if jewelry has hallmarks, this process is almost foolproof. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Makers mark silver jewelry silver decorations silver jewellery. Henry began to design and manufacture rhinestone jewelry around 1946, the year he filed a number of design patents. Public silver forums open free membership anyone with a valid email address may register. The stieff company baltimore maryland makers of sterling. These stamps are typically made up of the manufacturers initials, name, or another unique representative symbol. Introduction to antique silver makers marks antiques hunter. James avery has been crafting jewelry with beauty and meaning since 1954. Good for very old silver, but not much use if your piece is dated later than 1820. Jewelry history jewelry research jewelry marks jewelry signatures jewelry articles jewelry galleries. Scottish silver is one of our passions and we have made this guide so that you can read the marks on your piece of scottish silver. This old mark has the simple gi inscription as well the the 830 mark and denmark.
Ok, forging ahead here are some very general mexico silver hallmark guidelines from 1900, which is the age of most of the mexican silver we get in our store. Indexes are not particularly useful, as you have to search through for an alphabetical mark you may not be able to see that well on an older piece. Hallmarks speak volumes about pewter plates identity. How to read fine silver jewelry marks on mexican jewelry. Used primarily in during the meiji period 18681912 and for a short period after. The aim of this web site is to provide an aid in the identification of british and irish silversmiths from their makers or sponsors marks. Aug 22, 2014 silver jewelry marks are the hallmarks found on silver jewelry to help identify the composition and source of the jewelry. Vintage costume jewelry usually doesnt have purity marks, but will often have a makers mark commonly called the signature, and can sometimes have a retailer mark andor patent or inventory marks. This is a page of a small collection of antique silver and objects of vertu, a pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction. One of the more undervalued vintage jewelry designers is from bsk. Information and images contained in researching costume jewelry rcj were created by illusion jewels and are currently maintained and updated by costume.
Since the 16th century there have been various methods of. A makers mark is a unique stamp placed on jewelry and watches to ensure the authenticity of the manufacturer. Buy charms, rings, necklaces and more online, pickup in store. Silver jewelry marks are the hallmarks found on silver jewelry to help identify the composition and source of the jewelry. Navajo jewlery marks and symbols navajo code talkers. Hallmarks on mexican silver jewelry native american jewelry. Many charms are not stamped with makers marks or hallmarks, this doesnt mean the charm is not a precious metal necessarily. A makers mark on an art deco brooch is unlikely to be found in a book on. Jewelry makers of the 1920s1950s fahrner to mazer brothers. Bookmarks are thin markers used to save a readers place in a book. Silver forum an email based forum of knowledgeable individuals on silver, silver designs and maker marks. The little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks by bille hougart. Many of the worlds major jewelry and watchmaking centers require that makers register their marks so they can be tracked.
Look up designer jewelry makers marks using this list of designers and images of their stamps. Most pieces were stamped mexico and either silver or sterling. At a minimum they include the purity marks that indicate the silver content, and can also include the maker s mark or signature. You can read the marks on mexican silver jewelry by using a loupe, a small.
Introduction to antique silver makers marks youtube. Sterling silver flatware sterling silver jewelry silver jewellery silver tea set jewelers near me silver work makers mark antique silver tea sets this set of marks combines the circle gi mark with georg jensen mark from 19151930. This handysized guide is drawn from the extensively revised edition of jacksons silver and gold marks of england, scotland and ireland, published by the antique collectors club in 1989. The sites main focus is the silver markings used on vintage and antique sterling and coin silver, for those of you interested in silverplate trademarks, we have now added a large section of silverplate marks. Also called trademarks, they often provide the only evidence that a certain piece of jewelry has indeed been manufactured by a certain jewelry maker. The company was then sold to gustav braendle and renamed gustave. Thanks to ginger for this illustration and information.
Mar 11, 2019 the little book of mexican silver trade and hallmarks by bille hougart. Jewelry hallmarks gold and silver sterling silver jewelry, antique jewelry, gold. At its most basic, we can usually easily identify the type of jewelry i. These marks are found on necklaces, bracelets, rings and even tiny earrings. Apr 20, 2011 one of the more undervalued vintage jewelry designers is from bsk. Contact heritage auctions for a free appraisal of your designer. The large scale manufacturers which began in the 1840s form a major portion of this directory. When the silver content is at least 800 silver, a german mark in the form of a crown with a half moon is struck on the jewelry next to an indication of the fineness in thousands 800 or 925 and a makers mark. It was edward i 12727 who first passed a statute requiring all silver to be of sterling standard a purity of 925 parts per thousand ushering in a testing or assay system that has survived for over 700 years. Silver makers marks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The shield design around the assay office mark may vary according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. Pinpointing maker and metal content is often pretty easy.
For silver jewelry, there are two standards, 800 and 925000. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Identifying this mark is the first step in determining the value of a piece of jewelry. Scotland had its own slightly peculiar system of marking silver, so if the marks on your scottish silver are baffling you then hopefully you can use this guide to help you get started. Hallmarks on period jewelry antique jewelry university. Some of the assay office marks of member countries of the convention are illustrated below. They are usually made of paper, plastic, leather, metal, or other materials, and can be collectable items in their own right. Chicagosilver master list of online silver and jewelry hallmarks. At a minimum they include the purity marks that indicate the silver content, and can also include the makers mark or signature.
Finland silver mid century modernist design jewellery the jewellerymaker design make your own jewellery trifari ume jewelry dr lori ph d antiques raiser jewelry marks a global gemology raisals topaz ring best of thin blue line for her accessories. Some of the silver jewelry pieces youre likely going to find from navajo jewelry makers particularly those who specialize in working with silver can include a concho belt buckle or a squash bottom necklace. Your help will be very appreciated to name the following hallmarks. However, if you do find the marks, this list below of over 180 vintage jewelry and metal designers may help you identify how old they are. Silver and gold jewelry markings are commonly known as purity marks, maker s marks, symbols, or date letters. Secondly, it is my understanding that any american silver that is marked with a quality mark. Mystery mark forum more like a running dialog on name that mark type makers marks and hallmarks than an actual forum. The company was founded in new york in 1948 and was in business until the mid 1980s. Founded in pforzheim, germany, in 1855 by georg seeger and theodor fahrner, sr. Discover makers mark 46 the very first expression from our wood finishing series, makers mark 46 was created due to bill samuels, jr. Very helpful members can help research silver marks and items. Silver jewelry marks can also include the region or town where the piece was made andor.
Fabulous book about juliana jewelry, i photographed the belt chapter. Many new comers to the world of collecting silver often become confused with the large variety of markings on silver items. English silver has a series of at least four hallmarks. The keystone jewelry trade mark book, 1934 edition.
This mark tells us that this bowl is indeed pewter rather than silver. Aug 24, 2019 jewelry history jewelry research jewelry marks jewelry signatures jewelry articles jewelry galleries. Aug 15, 2014 vintage costume jewelry usually doesnt have purity marks, but will often have a makers mark commonly called the signature, and can sometimes have a retailer mark andor patent or inventory marks. Scotland had its own slightly peculiar system of marking silver, so if the marks on your scottish silver are baffling you then hopefully you.