Could someone please tell me what the extra hallmark is that looks like a letter ‘Z’ on this knife, dated 1853. (Is it a journeyman’s mark?)
And is the maker Elizabeth Eaton??
Many thanks if you can help!
I can’t think what else it could be other than a journeyman’s mark. Elizabeth Eaton is a very good candidate for the maker (correct punch shape, compatible date and initials most likely EE).
Phil
It is, as Phil suggests, a tally mark which appears on two butter knives by her posted elsewhere on this site to demonstrate an over-strike by a Channel Island silversmith on one.
Back then as now, journeymen were paid by the piece for the Sponsor, In this case Ms Eaton.
We know precious little about these un-heralded workers except that they did all the work so all the artifice is theirs too.
There is useful article on journeyman tally marks on the site of the Association of Small Collectors of Silver website which rightly deplores the absence of a separate record.
Christopher R W Wilson
Guildhall Antiques, Toronto
Many thanks; much appreciated!
Peter
You may have figured out the link yourself but in case you didn’t here it is.
This was a case where the similarity of design plus the remnant of the double helix EE mark but most telling the appearance of the Z tally mark betrayed the Eaton underneath the CI overstamp
Both items were advertised as “butter knives” on ebay, the first in 2004 and the second a decade later. Identical in length and similar in weight to dessert forks, If I can souce more I will buy them and call it a set of 12 fish knives with forks preferably without the overstamp although that does seem to make them more. desirable – or to use the auctioneer’s quaint term “important”.