Taking first the London mark of the leopard’s head, which was the earliest assay mark impressed on vessels of gold and silver, we give the forms of this stamp for the last six centuries.
This mark used to be called sometimes the Liberdes Hede, sometimes the Liberd Heed, and sometimes the Catte’s Face. The stamp itself was known as the punson, and it was most zealously guarded.
It is mentioned in the statute of 1300 as une tete de leopart; and in the charter granted in 1327 to the Goldsmiths’ Company, the puncheon of the leopard’s head was then said to have been of ancient use. At all events, it is always found on assayed silver, from the middle of the fifteenth century.
The form of the head has changed at various times. At first the leopard’s or lion’s head crowned within a circle was used, and this form continued in use until early in the sixteenth century.
In 1519 the leopard’s head appears with a different crown, and within a shaped outline.
From that time until the end of the seventeenth century, the crowned leopard’s head was placed within a line following the shape of the head and crown. The appearance of the lion at this time is noble, and he appears as the crowned king of beasts.
In 1678 the head was once again and for the last time placed in a circle.
In 1697 the Britannia standard was introduced, and the lion’s head erased was used instead of the leopard’s head.
The form of this stamp has never been altered, and is still used in the same shaped outline, for the higher standard, at the present time.
The old standard was revived in 1720, and the leopard’s head crowned was again used, but the shields at this time were of very uncertain shape.
In 1739 the shield was altered to a shape similar to that of the date letter.
After 1763 the head was made smaller arid placed in a plain shield.
In 1822 the leopard’s head was deprived of its crown, and denuded of its mane and beard a great change from the bold front presented in the old punches; and it has ever since looked more like a half-starved cat than a lion.
Indeed, from the earliest times until 1896, this mark has been constantly changed, and each change, according to many critics, has been for the worse.
The leopard’s head of the last cycle, adopted in 1896, however, certainly is a great improvement, though the shield may not meet with universal approbation.
The form of the leopard’s head and shield is at the present time (as per written by the author in 1919):
Source: Hall-Marks on Gold and Silver Plate by W. Chaffers and C.A. Markham.
