Hi all,
A friend purchased this at an antique store in Massachusetts, USA.
He believes it is silver rather than plate, although it is unmarked. Does anyone recognize this marks?
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This is by William Adams, Birmingham and New York:
Definitely silverplate. If it’s from North America, and doesn’t say “STERLING,” it isn’t silver. If it’s from the UK and doesn’t have proper sterling silver hallmarks, it isn’t silver. It’s a fairly simple rule of thumb. 
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Thank you so much. Didn’t see the WA and I thought it wasn’t silver but I wanted to check.
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The “WA” isn’t immediately obvious, but once someone points it out, you wonder how you missed it!
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Are you going to use it? With a quill?
Birds drop feathers all the time where I live, and it is easy to trim the end of a quill.
I have acquired three damaged writing slopes, which nobody wanted, but slowly they return to life.
I have found a charming silver ink well, along with two ceramic school-desk wells, the sort that those of us ancient enough to remember were the unwelcome receptacles for many a young girl’s innocent plaits.
I would give my eye-teeth for those glass ink wells, they don’t usually survive.
It is a very cool piece. My friend that bought it may be looking to get red of it - as he just bought it hoping he made big money for the silver and he also thought it was an interesting and ornate piece. He would be happy to have it go to somebody that would use an appreciate it.