silver ID

[toby123]

Hi

Over the weekend i acquired two items, one of which i believe to be silver the other i am not sure and believe it to be plated.

[HighlandTiger]

Sorry to say they are both silver plate.

 

The first is what is known as Britannia plate. The BP at the top gives it away, not sure of the makers.

 

The second is  Silver plated by the Mappin Brothers from Sheffield.

 

All real silver will have the following http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html

 

 

 

[DrDime]

Hey Toby. Unfortunately I think they both look like plate. I'm unfamiliar with the sun hallmark on the second one - could be a foreign mark. An easy way to tell is just try and bend the spoon. Sterling silver will be somewhat pliable whereas plated will generally be much stiffer

[DrDime]

Beat me to it HT :-)

[HighlandTiger]

Hey Toby. Unfortunately I think they both look like plate. I'm unfamiliar with the sun hallmark on the second one - could be a foreign mark. An easy way to tell is just try and bend the spoon. Sterling silver will be somewhat pliable whereas plated will generally be much stiffer

The sun hallmark is used by the Mappin Bros of Sheffield. Along with the MB and the crown for Sheffield

 

I said I was good at google  

[toby123]

Oh well , thanks for the info guys.

[toby123]

One for item , i was wondering if you knew what this is ,presumably sterling .

[DrDime]

On that one the handle will be sterling but probably quite a thin layer. I used to pick these up from boot sales. You can take off the handle and scrape off the cement that will be under the surface to see how much silver is there

[HighlandTiger]

Have you got a close up of the hallmarks, just to be certain

[toby123]

Additional hallmarks 

[HighlandTiger]

Toby, can you confirm the letters in the first mark, and it looks like an anchor then the lion and then I'm not sure of the letter at the end.

 

Definately sterling silver but if you give me the rest I'll give you the maker and date

 

 

 

Update, don't worry I could just about make it out.

 

William Vale & Sons. Birmingham. Sterling Silver.  1901