British Silver Hallmarks

1603 saw the end of the Tudor line to hold the British throne with the death of Elizabeth I and the start of the Stuarts with James VI of Scotland succeeding Elizabeth and becoming James I of England.

Although Scotland and England now had the same monarch both countries remained separate. James wanted to unite them as Great Britain but English opposition frustrated his plans.

The Protectorate is a name given to a brief period of government from 1653 to 1659. This came about after the English Civil War when Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. This system collapsed on the death of Oliver Cromwell and the failure of Richard Cromwell to control the Army. In 1660 the monarchy was restored.

This period brought about economic circumstances that impacted heavily on the market for silver and gold wares lasting almost 30 years. Purely English designs emerged.

James I reigned until 1625 when his son Charles I succeeded him. During the reign of James I many bowls and wine cups were decorated with closely punched lozenges to produce a simple repetitive geometrical pattern. Very broad stamped bands were also used on tankards.

The beaten sheets of silver in this period were very thin and the use of embossing added to its strength.

Until about 1630 standing cups and salts featured a steeple or obelisk possibly derived from the Gothic architecture use of stone pinnacles on churches and important buildings. The steeple itself was sometimes the support for a cast figure. Later in the period salts become less imposing. The pulley salt appeared, a waisted design with a much lower height in relation to the diameter.

The use of gilding decreased in this period and is seldom found after the Civil War. New designs appeared for the standing cup, with tub shaped body, straight sides and flattish base, standing on a sturdy stem with wide spreading foot. The cover was stepped and figured.

Grotesque cast handles on two handled cups are evident. Wine cups and beakers often have moulded bands embossed on them. Tankards of plainer design appear.

Flagons with S scrolled handles are to be found, these being an enlargement of the common tankard. Two handled wine tasters are among the most common items along with boxes, caskets and plain candlesticks, spoons and bowls.

London hallmarks for this period have the Leopards Head Crowned and the letter 'F' and the Lion Passant. These marks continue through to 1660 and uppercase 'B'. When Charles II takes the throne the letter is changed to uppercase "C. The sequence of letters omits 'j, v, w, x, y and z' with the 'u' looking more like the letter 'v in most cases'. This gives London a cycle of 20 years. From 1755 on the last letter in the London hallmark series is more obviously the letter 'u'.

Monarch of this period are James I 1603, Charles I 1625, Commonwealth 1649 to 1660, Charles II 1660.