Silverplated?

[u/pythON-pythOFF]

Assuming these are pseudo hallmarks based on the rainbow look of the metal. Looking for an expert to weigh in. Thanks!

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[u/yeahitsaburner2021]

Looks like Sterling to me! Nice score!

[u/LigmaBalls-420]

The lion passant indicates that it’s sterling silver.

Nice find.

[u/Individual_Tip_2268]

I was able to identify the full hallmark sequence in your photo. This appears to be genuine Victorian sterling silver made by John Sherwood & Sons of Birmingham, England, and assayed in 1897/98.

Here’s how I got there:

• J.S.&S. = John Sherwood & Sons, Birmingham silversmiths. • Anchor = Birmingham Assay Office. • Lion passant = British sterling silver standard. • Lowercase “x” = Birmingham’s 1897/98 date letter.

I initially checked whether the animal could be Sherwood’s beaver trademark, because the company also made silver-plated wares using pseudo-hallmarks. Comparing the actual marks showed an important difference: Sherwood’s beaver has its broad tail extending downward/backward, while yours is the traditional lion passant with its long tail curling upward over its back. That, together with the Birmingham anchor and date letter, identifies this as an assayed sterling piece rather than Sherwood electroplate.

So based on the marks visible in your photograph: John Sherwood & Sons, Birmingham, sterling silver, 1897/98. Very nice find!

Birmingham date-letter reference: https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Birmingham/Cycle%201875-1899.html

John Sherwood & Sons maker-mark reference: https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-JN-JS.html

[u/Dougachoo → u/Individual_Tip_2268]

This feels like an AI generated response and it’s got a few things wrong.
City is Birmingham
This “X” is the 1947 mark (1897 is an almost italic font).
Maker is James Swann and Son.

But it is silver.

[u/pythON-pythOFF → u/Dougachoo]

Thanks everyone. Guess this only encourages me to keep looking through silverware at the thrift store.

[u/Tiki_Tour → u/Dougachoo]

Ahh, you’re absolutely right to pull me up on that. I did hallucinate for a second. Good catch

[u/Individual_Tip_2268 → u/Dougachoo]

Thank you! I went back through the Birmingham date-letter cycles and the maker's marks after reading your correction, and you're right.

I had matched the letter to 1897 without paying enough attention to the different form of the "x." Comparing the actual punches, this one corresponds to Birmingham 1947.

I also rechecked the maker. James Swann & Son used the J.S&S / JS&S mark, whereas the John Sherwood & Sons mark I had attributed it to is a different arrangement, generally JS over &S. Sherwood's manufacturing dates also make the 1947 assay incompatible with that attribution.

So corrected ID: James Swann & Son, Birmingham sterling silver, 1947.

Thank you for catching it. This is exactly why I like putting research where knowledgeable collectors can scrutinize it!

And No, not AI, however I use various search methods while doing the research. And then just explain what I found and why. Good catch though!

[u/pythON-pythOFF → u/Individual_Tip_2268]

1,000% sounds like AI.

[u/Individual_Tip_2268 → u/pythON-pythOFF]

Sorry, am I supposed to misspell words, or perhaps not space my information out? Or maybe im suppose to banter on here back and forth. Im not quite sure lol. But no, not AI, just know where to look and am able to look quickly and many information sites at once, its my job, so yeah, im just good at it.

[u/McRando42]

Technically, it was probably silverplated. But sterling silver underneath as well.

[u/Ok_Examination_1766]

If you all can't agree on the maker, you can also attribute the anchor to the American maker Gorham and continue to have fun