When buying an antique piece of silver or when discovering one to be stuck in the closet of your own home, you can find or guess more about it by considering the hallmark. It can help you authenticate and identify your item. The hallmark is a mark struck or impressed on silver which indicates the precious metal’s karat and fineness.

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.

Jacob Wemmers Hoppestein (1661) At the sign of The Old Moor’s Head. He seems to have carried out at this factory the excellent work begun by his predecessor Abraham de Kooge, and the produce of this factory had a high reputation. It consisted generally of blue decorative centers representing episodes from Roman history, surrounded by coloured borders.

Various Potters Marks of Dutch Delft potters from 1584 to 1648.

Irish silver offers some complications in regard to its markings, and it is especially interesting in its character.
Dublin is the centre of the silversmiths’ work in Ireland, and officially the Dublin Goldsmiths’ Company holds …

Scottish silver hall marks are in a field by themselves. The art of the silversmith has always been on a high level in Scotland.