The jewelry that was produced by Henry Birks and Sons has always been admired for its high quality and lavish luxury. The company’s designers never neglected the classical dazzle of the diamond for any other types of precious stones and made the brand renowned for its outstanding brilliant jewelry. The designs of the platinum, white and yellow gold diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants have always had a classical form with the gemstones being the centerpieces of each item focusing the attention on their perfection and unmistakable sparkle.

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.

The jewelry made by the company was also primarily designed by Jensen himself although the other designers contributed to the creative process. The founder of the company worked mainly with silver in the beginning of his jewelry making career, although he later presented remarkable gold, white gold and platinum pieces as well. The designs of the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pendants and brooches were also inspired by the natural world. The gentle and exquisite floral and leaf and simplistic beautifully curved organic forms …

To him who loves to quicken the dry bones of collecting into something pulsating with life, the salt cellar provides a delight which is not easily equaled. It was an honoured guest at every feast. It was the social thermometer which marked the exact degree of rank of the sitters. Persons of distinction sat above the salt, and between it and the head of the table.

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.

The company that changed the trend and created its own unique and iconic style, which became influential not only in America, but in the entire world, was Tiffany & Co. Founded in New York City in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young, Tiffany and Co. was a stationary and fancy goods emporium and specialized in the sale of fine glass and porcelain decorative objects.

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 …

… these are charming works of art, beautifully and harmoniously designed, and with lines balanced to perfection. They are, in fact, jewels meant to be worn …

The sugar-caster shown here belongs to the George II epoch of silver. Evidently the rich and varied styles extended to Scotland. The same impulses influenced both nations before the union; in date this is 1746.

A metallic composition of silver, lead, and sulphur. In appearance it is a black substance, somewhat resembling enamel, but it lacks the glassy surface and has a faintly metallic lustre.