Turning over silverware, sculptures and jewelry to look for hallmarks can be an exciting hunt, but it can also be confusing and frustrating. After all, what do all the markings on antiques mean? Sometimes several appear on the same object, and sometimes none at all. But when it comes to silver and gold, it can be helpful to know what the hallmarks stand for.
– You should keep track of hallmarks because you should know what you are buying. It’s also exciting to be able to trace both the year and the city,” says Maria at the Ribbhagen antique shop, where the staff have long experience of both silver and gold work.
The difference between silver and nickel silver – what to look out for
– You think you’re buying silver, but you’re actually buying new silver. New silver can usually be marked with hallmarks such as ALP, EP and NS. Objects with these hallmarks can be beautiful, but have no real value. They also usually have a thin plating ring that wears away over time,” says Maria.
Most important stamps to watch out for
The most common and well-known stamp that most people recognize is the cat’s foot. It is a hallmark that guarantees the content of gold, silver or tin. This stamp was introduced in Sweden in 1752 and is still used today to identify whether an object is made of silver or gold. Foreign hallmarks are plentiful, and each country has its own system – so it’s good to know that a round ring around the cat’s foot means the item is imported.
Cat’s foot – what the stamp looks like
What we often call a cat’s foot, or trefoil stamp, is usually found on most silver and gold items. You’ll recognize it as a shield with the coat of arms three crowns and that it looks a bit like a cloud, if you use your imagination. On a silver object, the cat’s paw may be followed by an S in a frame. If it is platinum, it will say P (950) instead. As the rules for the three-pass stamp have changed over the years, you need to look at when your item was made to see what applies, as it can vary depending on the year and precious metal.
Name stamp or responsibility stamp?
This stamp can replace the cat’s foot if your item also has a fineness stamp (see below). The most common way to print the name of the person responsible for the production is to mark the item with capital letters. The letters are usually placed in a frame. It is difficult to know how many different responsibility stamps there are, so it is best to look up your specific item. There are lists both online and in books where you can find out exactly which stamp is applicable. However, a name stamp is not something you should confuse with a signature.
Signed objects
Noble blacksmith Wiwen Nilsson was one of the most prominent designers in Sweden. He designed tin vases and mirrors for Ystad Metall, utility and decorative objects and crafts for many different brands. He used to sign his objects with an intricate engraved handwriting. Torun Bülow-Hübe is another well-known name in jewelry design. Her bracelets and necklaces often sell for high prices. Nevertheless, it can be interesting to look out for her signature, which is often marked with her name in capital letters. Sigurd Persson is another well-known name in design. He has designed and manufactured cutlery sets, glasses, jewelry and candlesticks, including for Svenskt Tenn. To recognize his objects, it is usually easiest to know what he has designed, as the objects may lack a signature. However, the signature is easier to find on his jewelry.
Finishing stamps – check the metal holder
When you’re looking for gold or silver jewelry, it’s not unusual to see fineness marks. The markings are in thousandths of a carat and tell you how much precious metal is in your item – this is what determines how valuable your item is. Gold is usually marked 750 (18 karat), which means it is 75% gold. The same applies to white gold. A pure silver item is almost always marked with the 830 hallmark. What is sterling silver then? It is always marked 925 and means that your item is 92.5% silver, the rest is copper.
Local stamp – where does the metal object come from?
This shows where your item was made, and is not mandatory to mark. In the past, the coat of arms was used as the town stamp, but today it is more common to use the first letter of the town name. You will always see this stamp in a round or rectangular frame. Looking only for antiques from a particular town can be interesting for some collectors.
Year stamp – see when the item was made
The stamp is usually a letter combined with a number. To find the right one for your item, you need to look for lists of year designations.
Text: Amanda Blennborn, freelance journalist
