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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Ruthycc on February 12, 2015, 01:34:57 PM

Title: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: Ruthycc on February 12, 2015, 01:34:57 PM

I have found rather nice sellers which at first glance I thought they just had blank indents but upon further inspection they appear to have some type of mark but I cannot identify them. Does anyone recognise these?

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: wilhenri on February 12, 2015, 01:51:05 PM

They are certainly not English/British Hallmarks possibly foreign though Aquascutum normally use full English marks as here http://www.aquascutumgifts.com/corporate_gifts_71_95/product419/product_info.html?osCsid=ud6088igsf1d4umagh8nf8uto5 I venture to suggest design marks.

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: Ruthycc on February 12, 2015, 02:37:33 PM

Thank you wilhenri. I didn't think they were hall marks but not sure what design marks are. Would be great if you could explain.

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: wilhenri on February 13, 2015, 03:10:02 AM

What I mean is a bit like you would get on the underside of a plate or china dish. sometimes called a back stamp..it identifies the maker for instance Doulton or Wedgewood Aquascutum are probably just selling these as opposed to actually making them

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: KC on February 14, 2015, 08:22:44 PM

Agree are makers' marks (hallmarks)....just can't make them out well.

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: wilhenri on February 15, 2015, 03:16:44 AM

I think that there is often confusion over terms used between the UK and the USA here in the UK a Hallmark is a set of marks applied to Gold, Silver, Platinum and more recently  Palladium. It denotes the standard of fineness of the metal and is carried out only in the Assay offices London Birmingham Edinburgh Sheffield. Some Continental countries operate a similar system but not as complex as here in the UK. Pewter Makers apply what we refer to as a Touch Mark to identify the maker.  So in the UK if the item does not have the relevant Hallmarks it is simply metal but it can be tested and if it meets the standard Hallmarks can be applied..

Title: Re: Are these hallmarks? Aquascutum salt & pepper mills
Post by: KC on February 15, 2015, 01:29:47 PM

That is correct Wilhenri! 

I put hallmarks in parenthesis because I can't make out what those markings are but figure it is a makers mark!