Help to identify James Mckay spoon!

British Silver
1

Please can someone help to identify this mark? It would appear to be a James McKay teaspoon but I’m strugglingwith the date and duty mark as these dont seem to match the datesI have for him? I am very new to this though so I am probably reading it incorrectly…

20260301_150450
20260301_1504501761×3624 1.2 MB

1 Like
2

JM
JM1838×332 138 KB

1855 1855

1 Like
3

This mark for “J Mc” is interesting as unlike the marks attributed to James McKay by the Edinburgh Assay Office and cited by www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk it is not in a plain rectangular box.

As the very reliable online site indicates there are five Edinburgh silversmiths all with the same name and not entirely dis similar marks.

The rectangular mark appears also in Jacksons at 553/4 again attributed to James McKay.

Here is the more usual mark for 1855 in the plain rectangle:

and another also in a plain rectangle on an 1855 Teapot:

My first thought was the irregular shape on your teaspoon was an over-stamp-- someone had bought silver off someone else and over-stamped it for resale “J Mc”. Perfectly legal and often used retail marketing ploy but I don’t think that is the case here.

As I haven’t organized access the Edinburgh Assay office I do not know if this variation on the mark is registered and if so to whom. Someone who does might assist you with that, please.

CRWW

1 Like
4

Thank you, interestingly this spoon is the same King’s flatware pattern as that in the set you have linked, although I suspect that’s a very common pattern.

1 Like
5

Thank you l, sorry my initial reply vanished but more than one maker of the same name makes sense!

Thanks for your time :folded_hands:

1 Like
6

U welcome, Clare! - - - - – :hugs:

1 Like
7

The similarity or pattern makes it more likely the makers are the same despite the difference in marks. Both your teaspoon and the exhibited pattern are single-stamped meaning the pattern only appears on the front of the item.

CRWW

1 Like
8

Thank so much for your time! I’ve got a few random pieces of silver cutlery and have been meaning to find out more about them for ages. This site and the help offered is fabulous, so thank you :blush:

1 Like
9

We are the best, but there will always be malcontents for whom everything needs to be served on a golden platter… Signum temporis.

10

Signum temporum sed etiam industria quae nos omnes inpellit

CRWW

11

I would argue. This energy, or rather the lack thereof, irritates me and undermines my faith in the future of the human species.