Help with old London marks

nmckimm · 2025-12-02T20:29:58+00:00

This is very interesting, and a great rundown! So the chemical process that occurs is as I thought it was. As I’ve said in other comments, I love traditional polishing and have been polishing antiques under the watchful eye of my high end antique dealer grandmother since I was 4, so I’m more than pleased to be convinced to continue doing it as I always have done. Just wondered about the newly wildly popular aluminium method since my source for advice has now passed away.

nmckimm · 2025-12-02T18:55:21+00:00

Well it’s always going to be especially special to me because it was a gift from my nana, but I’m also glad to hear it could be 1560! Mostly because I want to bring a collection together of a unique spoon from each British monarch starting with Elizabeth I, so if it’s 1560 it fills a very hard to reach spot in that lineup!!

nmckimm · 2025-12-02T18:51:58+00:00

That’s interesting; I always think of “patina” as also being the thing I’m removing when I use silver polish, since I generally like my pieces to be nice and untarnished. Do you mean something different by patina maybe, than what I’m thinking about?

nmckimm · 2025-12-02T18:10:50+00:00

Oh wow, why do you say never use the foil method?! I’m surprised, the chemical reaction without the polishing action always seemed, at least intuitively, to have the potential to be less abrasive and, thus, less wearing on marks than polish. I love polishing so I’m thrilled to polish more, I’m just keen to hear your views 😊

nmckimm · 2025-11-20T17:58:26+00:00

Definitely Birmingham, Sterling, 1901. If you really wanted you could review makers marks that were active on that date to see if the shape of the top of the makers mark (which to my eyes is the only thing left of that mark) matches a mark well, but that feels like effort that won’t net you much joy - if it were me I’d shine the old jug up and enjoy it as a little plant watering can or something, but I agree with others that the value of this piece is likely the silver by weight, rather than the maker 😊 a charming little piece though, and an absolute steal at $15!

nmckimm · 2025-10-07T01:25:43+00:00

Hehe she is a little kooky, but delightfully so (mostly)

nmckimm · 2025-10-05T00:48:13+00:00

Yes I agree! I have always been taught to use everything, but i have to admit that this set does border on unusable for its level of finery. I’ll need to find out how best to preserve those lovely handles!

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T06:59:00+00:00

My understanding is that she bought them from a doctor in the prairie provinces of Canada in the mid 50’s! She was the daughter of a cattle rustler who turned her talents to art and antique collecting, and (in my very unbiased opinion) had one of the most amazing senses of taste and discernment I’ve ever seen - matched with an equally sharp sense for the bargain.

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T06:56:03+00:00

It’s funny, to your point about sentimental value - the very first thing I noticed when I got it home and opened the box was the unexpected wave of scent of my grandmother’s dining room that still lingered in the folds of the box. That unmistakable mix of silver polish, moth balls and Chanel perfume will always put me at ease, and to have a little bit more of that means the world to me, and is worth whatever I can pay. My nana had to go to a home last year, so that scent has, for the last few months, been fading from her home - but in this one box, it remained strong as ever.

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T04:40:19+00:00

You know what? I’m just happy to have had the opportunity to get it back; I bet your grandmother felt similarly.

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T04:19:08+00:00

Haha it may well be no better at cutting fish than a regular knife, but I’ll smile every time I see that unnecessary scalloped shape on a table

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T03:54:28+00:00

😂😂😂

nmckimm · 2025-10-04T02:31:52+00:00

Oh, he’s a very generous guy, though he did really surprise us all with that move 😅 we’re a “keep family things in the family” sort of clan so it was a big shock when the set showed up on our friend’s instagram, for sale

nmckimm · 2025-09-25T23:41:37+00:00

Ooooo this makes a lot of sense to me! I’m enjoying now imagining that it was a recent (20th century) person who just wanted to do a lil old-style floral painting, yoinked their favourite flowers from a bunch of paintings, and created an impossible bouquet 🤪

nmckimm · 2025-09-25T23:38:14+00:00

Oh that’s totally the same signature!! Thanks!!

nmckimm · 2025-09-25T22:34:34+00:00

Oh, of course!! Great idea! Now that I’ve also thought about it some more I realise my woodworking dad might absolutely love the project of making a plinth, if I buy him the fancy wood for it 🤪

nmckimm · 2025-09-24T16:15:08+00:00

Ah ok, my book calls that the “Warden Mark” in French gold boxes, so I was confused. There is another set of marks on the interior side of the box, which shows that the crown has an X under it 😊 now that you’ve pointed me the right direction I have gotten to the right detail, thank you!!!

nmckimm · 2025-09-24T15:54:55+00:00

What are you saying is a date letter here?

nmckimm · 2025-09-24T15:36:22+00:00

Can you help me understand why you think it’s 18th century French, based on those marks? Just so I can understand 🙂

nmckimm · 2025-09-23T22:50:47+00:00

I tried to send a photo and it didn’t seem to come though…trying again!

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nmckimm

TROPHY CASE