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  • ChineseArgent: All Silver: Art, Antiques, Hallmark & ArticlesChinese Export Silver. Silver antique, Chinese Art, Silver hallmarks, fineness, Coin Silver, Maker's mark, flatware patterns
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      
    • Chinese Silver Money - Chinese Sycee
    • Flow of Silver to China
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    • Canton System
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    • East meet West
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  • Silver Care
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    • Polish Silver in a Baking Soda
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  • English Silversmiths Directory
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  • Flatware Pattern Index
      
    • A & W Wood
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    • Albert Coles
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    • Hallmark
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    • John R. Wendt & Co.
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    • Lunt Silversmith 1/2
    • Lunt Silversmith 2/2
    • Kalo Shop
    • Kirk-Stieff Co.
    • Knowles & Ladd
    • Koehler & Ritter
    • Maltby, Stevens & Curtiss Co
    • Manchester Silver
    • Marshall Field & Co
    • Mauser Mfg. Co.
    • Meriden Britannia Co
    • Michael Gibney
    • Mount Vernon Co. 1
    • Mount Vernon Co. 2
    • National Silver
    • Old Newbury Crafters
    • Oneida Patterns
    • Paye & Baker
    • Poole Silver Co.
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    • Ralph Lauren
    • R. Blackinton & Co.
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    • Raimond Silver Mfg. Co.
    • Richard Dimes
    • Rogers & Brittin
    • Roger Williams Silver Co.
    • Royal Crest
    • Saart Bros. / SSMC
    • Schofield Co. Patterns
    • Schulz & Fischer
    • Shreve & Co. Patterns
    • Simons Bros.
    • Simmons & Paye
    • State House Silver
    • Theo. Evans & Co.
    • Tiffany
    • Towle Patterns
    • Tradition Sterling
    • Tuttle Silver
    • Unger Bros. Patterns
    • Vera Wang
    • Wallace Silver 1/5
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    • Wallace Silver 5/5
    • Watrous Mfg. Co.
    • Watson Co. 1/3
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    • Watson Co. 3/3
    • Web Silver Co.
    • Webster Co.
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    • Westmorland Silver
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    • Whiting Mfg. Co. 3/3
    • Wilcox & Evertsen
    • W.K. Vanderslice
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    • WM Gale & Son
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    • Wood & Hughes
  • Forums
  • Maker Date Mark
      
    • Georg Jensen Date Mark
    • Gorham Date Mark
    • Kirk Date Mark
    • Tiffany Date Mark
    • Tuttle Date Mark
  • Articles Index
      
    • Interesting Silver Facts
    • Western Decorative Styles and period
    • Trade Silver Coins
    • German Silver (Nickel silver)
    • History of English Silver
    • Monogram - A Silver collector's perspective
    • Sterling or Plated?
    • Fake and Forged Silver Marks
    • The impressive Chinese Dragon
    • Investing in Chinese Export Silver
  • Notable Silversmith Index
      
    • Alvin Silver Mfg. Co.
    • Derby Silver Co
    • Elkington & Co.
    • Georg Jensen Silver
    • Gorham Manufacturing Company
    • ​John Rudolph Wendt
    • Kalo Shop
    • Kirk & Son Sterling
    • Paul Storr
    • Reed & Barton
    • Tiffany & Co
    • Wallace Silversmiths
    • Westmorland Silver Company
  • Our Collection
  • Appendix
      
    • London Date Mark (1678 – 1974)
    • Birmingham Date Mark (1773 – 1974)
    • Sheffield Date Mark (1773 – 1974)
    • Edinburgh Date Mark (1705 – 1974)
    • Exeter Date Mark (1701 - 1882)
    • Dublin Date Mark (1700 - 1920)
    • Newcastle Date Mark (1839 - 1883)
    • Glasgow Date Mark (1683 - 1963)
    • Chester Date Mark (1701 - 1925)
    • ​National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906
    • Tientsin Treaty 1858
    • Nanking Treaty 1842
    • Kirk & Son Date Mark
    • ​Swedish Silver Date Mark
    • Georg Jensen Designer mark
    • Exchange Rates - The Ching Dynasty
    • Exchange Rates - The Ming Dynasty
    • Purchasing Capability - The Qing Dynasty
    • Purchasing Capability - The Ming Dynasty
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ChineseArgent: All Silver: Art, Antiques, Hallmark & Articles

Chinese Export Silver. Silver antique, Chinese Art, Silver hallmarks, fineness, Coin Silver, Maker's mark, flatware patterns

  • Home
  • Chinese Art - General
    • Chinese Dynasty Timeline
    • Chinese Cloisonné
    • Jingtai Blue
    • China Middle Class
  • Chinese Export Silver
    • Chinese Silver Money - Chinese Sycee
    • Flow of Silver to China
    • Chinese Rich Silver History
    • Canton System
    • First Opium War
    • Second Opium War
    • East meet West
    • Chinese Silversmith
    • Chinese Silver Motif
    • Chinese Silver Maker Marks
  • Chinese Treaty Port
    • Macao
    • Shanghai
    • Tientsin
    • Canton
    • The French concession (Shanghai)
    • The American Concession (Tientsin)
  • Silver Care
    • Tarnish Vs Patina
    • Care & Polishing
    • Polish Silver in a Baking Soda
    • Displaying Silver
    • Storing Silver
  • World Silver Hallmarks
    • Fineness Marks
    • American Silver Hallmark
    • Austrian Silver Hallmark
    • Baltimore Silver Hallmark
    • Belgium Silver Hallmark
    • Dutch Silver Hallmark
    • Egyptian Silver Hallmark
    • English Silver Hallmark
    • Finnish Silver Hallmark
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    • Swiss Silver Hallmark
  • World Silversmiths Directory
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    • German Silversmith 3/4
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    • Mexican Silversmith Maker
    • Norwegian Silversmith
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  • America Silversmiths Directory
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  • English Silversmiths Directory
    • York Maker Mark
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  • Flatware Pattern Index
    • A & W Wood
    • A.F. Towle & Son
    • Albert Coles
    • Allan Adler
    • Alvin Mfg. Co. 1/3
    • Alvin Mfg. Co. 2/3
    • Alvin Mfg. Co. 3/3
    • Amston Silver Co.
    • Baker-Manchester
    • Campbell-Metcalf Silver Co.
    • Century Sterling
    • Chicago Silver Co.
    • Coles & Reynolds
    • Concord Silversmiths
    • Contempora House
    • Dominick & Haff 1/2
    • Dominick & Haff 2/2
    • Dowry Sterling
    • Duhme & Co
    • Easterling
    • Erickson Silver Shop
    • Fessenden & Co
    • Fine Arts
    • Frank M. Whiting 1/2
    • Frank M. Whiting 2/2
    • Frank W. Smith 1/2
    • Frank W. Smith 2/2
    • Geo. W. Shiebler & Co. 1/2
    • Geo. W. Shiebler & Co. 2/2
    • Graff, Washbourne & Dunn Pattern
    • Hallmark
    • Henry Hebbard
    • HH Curtis & Co
    • Howard Sterling Co.
    • H.R. Morss & Co.
    • International Silver Co. Patterns 1/5
    • International Silver Co. Patterns 2/5
    • International Silver Co. Patterns 3/5
    • International Silver Co. Patterns 4/5
    • International Silver Co. Patterns 5/5
    • John R. Wendt & Co.
    • J.B. & S.M. Knowles
    • John Polhamus
    • Jos. Mayer & Bros.
    • Joseph Seymour
    • Ludwig, Redlich & Co. Patterns
    • Lunt Silversmith 1/2
    • Lunt Silversmith 2/2
    • Kalo Shop
    • Kirk-Stieff Co.
    • Knowles & Ladd
    • Koehler & Ritter
    • Maltby, Stevens & Curtiss Co
    • Manchester Silver
    • Marshall Field & Co
    • Mauser Mfg. Co.
    • Meriden Britannia Co
    • Michael Gibney
    • Mount Vernon Co. 1
    • Mount Vernon Co. 2
    • National Silver
    • Old Newbury Crafters
    • Oneida Patterns
    • Paye & Baker
    • Poole Silver Co.
    • Porter Blanchard
    • Ralph Lauren
    • R. Blackinton & Co.
    • Reed & Barton
    • Raimond Silver Mfg. Co.
    • Richard Dimes
    • Rogers & Brittin
    • Roger Williams Silver Co.
    • Royal Crest
    • Saart Bros. / SSMC
    • Schofield Co. Patterns
    • Schulz & Fischer
    • Shreve & Co. Patterns
    • Simons Bros.
    • Simmons & Paye
    • State House Silver
    • Theo. Evans & Co.
    • Tiffany
    • Towle Patterns
    • Tradition Sterling
    • Tuttle Silver
    • Unger Bros. Patterns
    • Vera Wang
    • Wallace Silver 1/5
    • Wallace Silver 2/5
    • Wallace Silver 3/5
    • Wallace Silver 4/5
    • Wallace Silver 5/5
    • Watrous Mfg. Co.
    • Watson Co. 1/3
    • Watson Co. 2/3
    • Watson Co. 3/3
    • Web Silver Co.
    • Webster Co.
    • Weidlich Sterling
    • Wendell Patterns
    • Westmorland Silver
    • Whiting Mfg. Co. 1/3
    • Whiting Mfg. Co. 2/3
    • Whiting Mfg. Co. 3/3
    • Wilcox & Evertsen
    • W.K. Vanderslice
    • Wm. B. Durgin 1/2
    • Wm. B. Durgin 2/2
    • WM Gale & Son
    • Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co
    • Wood & Hughes
  • Forums
  • Maker Date Mark
    • Georg Jensen Date Mark
    • Gorham Date Mark
    • Kirk Date Mark
    • Tiffany Date Mark
    • Tuttle Date Mark
  • Articles Index
    • Interesting Silver Facts
    • Western Decorative Styles and period
    • Trade Silver Coins
    • German Silver (Nickel silver)
    • History of English Silver
    • Monogram - A Silver collector's perspective
    • Sterling or Plated?
    • Fake and Forged Silver Marks
    • The impressive Chinese Dragon
    • Investing in Chinese Export Silver
  • Notable Silversmith Index
    • Alvin Silver Mfg. Co.
    • Derby Silver Co
    • Elkington & Co.
    • Georg Jensen Silver
    • Gorham Manufacturing Company
    • ​John Rudolph Wendt
    • Kalo Shop
    • Kirk & Son Sterling
    • Paul Storr
    • Reed & Barton
    • Tiffany & Co
    • Wallace Silversmiths
    • Westmorland Silver Company
  • Our Collection
  • Appendix
    • London Date Mark (1678 – 1974)
    • Birmingham Date Mark (1773 – 1974)
    • Sheffield Date Mark (1773 – 1974)
    • Edinburgh Date Mark (1705 – 1974)
    • Exeter Date Mark (1701 - 1882)
    • Dublin Date Mark (1700 - 1920)
    • Newcastle Date Mark (1839 - 1883)
    • Glasgow Date Mark (1683 - 1963)
    • Chester Date Mark (1701 - 1925)
    • ​National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906
    • Tientsin Treaty 1858
    • Nanking Treaty 1842
    • Kirk & Son Date Mark
    • ​Swedish Silver Date Mark
    • Georg Jensen Designer mark
    • Exchange Rates - The Ching Dynasty
    • Exchange Rates - The Ming Dynasty
    • Purchasing Capability - The Qing Dynasty
    • Purchasing Capability - The Ming Dynasty

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American or Canadian Silversmith / Maker

American Silver Retailer Index

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German Silversmith

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 Interesting Read

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Understanding the mysterious Chinese Art

Affluent Chinese Art Collector

 

Chinese Export Silver & Timeline

Investing in Chinese Export Silver

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The impressive Chinese Dragon

Chinese Motif and its meaning in Chinese Culture

Tarnish? Arrest the culprit

Polishing: Making it Shine again

Interesting Silver Facts. Things you probably do not know

 

Chinese Cloisonne Art

JingTai Lan: The Imperial Blue Cloisonne

 Silver Hallmark

 Hallmark1.jpg

American Silver Hallmark

American Baltimore Silver Mark

Austrian Silver Hallmark

Belgian Silver Hallmark

Chinese Export Silver Mark

Dutch Silver Hallmark

Egyptian Silver Hallmark

English Silver Hallmark

Finnish Silver Hallmark

French Silver Hallmark

Hungarian Silver Hallmark

Italian Silver Hallmark

Mexican Silver Hallmark

Polish Silver Hallmark

Spanish Silver Hallmark

Swedish Silver Hallmark

Swiss Silver Hallmark

 Blog Entries

  • Silver Flatware Patterns
  • Silverware manufacturer / silversmith flatware patterns Index
  • Chinese Sycee / Silver Ingot Article Update
  • New Silver Hallmark Update
  • JingTai Lan: The Imperial Blue Cloisonne
more  

History of English Silver

The story of English (UK, England, Ireland & Scotland) Sterling (925) Silver

English silver always has a deep, traditional, and rich legacy. Even, for a period of hundreds of years, English silver has been widely accepted as the finest, exquisite, and elite class of silver across the world. We should thank both the zealous and jealous traditions of those Guild of Goldsmiths and completely unique system of Hallmarks which have accelerated to make the classic English silver more premium in its category. For the different style, period and motif of English silver, please click here.

Goldsmiths' Hall circa 1814

But What Has Made The English Silver So Special? : 

These are some of the most outstanding, stunning, and sumptuous objects crafted by the greatest talent of eminent silversmiths of the late 18th & 19th centuries. Undoubtedly, these beautiful yet gorgeous pieces are amongst the elegant antique silver that is available on the market today. 

English Silver.jpg

Edward Feline, Christening Cup and Cover, 1731 (The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection)

The History Behind The Classic English Silver : 

For more than six centuries, no other article had been allowed to be sold in the country of England as the sterling English silver until and unless it has been thoroughly tested at the “Hall” in order to examine and determine that the silver's quality is up to the expected standard of the nine hundred & twenty-five parts of one thousand pure silver. Whereas, the remaining seventy-five parts of the alloy are usually allowed to be made of copper. This combination together brings the process of aging and fashioning, gives the silver a delicate blue “patina.”

The Process Of Testing The Exquisite English Silver :

At the Hall, the English silver that passes the purity test gets stamped with a wide array of various identifying marks:

1. The Lion standing near the sideways with its raised front paw is purity tested in order to determine the required quality.

2. The insignia of the city or the town in which the purity test was made. (for example, London, is widely known by the symbol of the prestigious Leopard’s head, Birmingham is acknowledged by an Anchor and whereas, Sheffield is known by the mark of the Crown.)

3. Additionally, one letter of the alphabet is generally used in order to illustrate a particular year, thus it also represents the date too. As many cycles of alphabets can be used to write in several ways (a, A, a etc.), many years can be easily covered by this process.

Along with the above-mentioned marks, the silversmiths can also place his individual identifying symbol upon the English silver, usually the initials.

And from the hallmarks, the following can be promptly determined:

A. The purity of the silver.

B. The town of manufacture.

C. The date of manufacture.

D. Identification of the silversmith or the craftsmen.

For complete identification of English, UK, Ireland & Scotland Silver hallmark / marking, please click here.

The English Silver Research Till date

A Pair of George II Antique English Silver Sauce Boats (London)

With the virtue of laws of the Guilds, the silversmiths were generally required to complete an entire apprenticeship of a period of seven years in order to learn the craft properly. At the end of this period, the trainee or the apprentice could become a full-time member of this Guild being a talented and Master Silversmith. Also, in this way, the quality of metal and the quality of craftsmanship were easily protected. 

When Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, an estimated 250,000 Huguenots (French Protestants) fled the country for fear of persecution. Many of these emigrants were skilled silversmiths who took their talents to England to seek the religious freedom as they knew that it could be conveniently obtained there. As many of those French craftsmen had similar craftsmanship skills like the England’s finest silversmiths, their strong influence in the designing of English silver has been retained till date. For French Silver hallmark or marking, please click here.

A Complete New Era

In the 18th century, the civilization had witnessed the beginning of the historic industrial revolution. With this historic revolution, the introduction of tea became the national drink. Hence, these two factors easily provided enough wealth for the common people to buy English silver. It also had inspired the ordinary people the need of using it. Even, it had inspired to show off the one’s worldly possessions through the display of silver. During that time, the crafting of English silver was considered as a superior form of art, and it should be also remembered that the world accepted the silver standard at that time, not the gold.

The Present Scenario

Due to the highly sophisticated value of English silver, in 2016, the platform www.ChineseArgent.com has been created for discussion, reading, exchanges, and understanding for this wonderful metal and its aspects. More importantly, we hope to promote and share in Chinese Export Silver. Our goal is to create a platform to share, discuss and understand about Silver Art & Antiques

Note: If you cannot find the answer to your question. Please post questions on Forum. We check the forum page almost daily. We would try to answer all questions and expand existing pages.

 About Us

We seek to identify and bring together interested public and/or collectors who share an interest in Silver Antiques, Chinese Art, Silver hallmarks, fineness, Maker's mark, flatware patterns, silversmith history and Chinese Export Silver. Our goal is to create a platform to share, discuss and understand about Silver Antique Art.

Argent is an archaic word for silver, hence had call our home www.ChineseArgent.com .

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