THE DIRECTORY OF CANADA SILVERSMITHS
MARKS AND HALLMARKS OF CANADIAN SILVER
|
This is a page of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1500 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, silver marking system and silver hallmarks guide, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington, WMF, Reed & Barton, Mappin & Webb, Bateman Family),
SITE MAP -
HOME PAGE
|
CANADA SILVERSMITHS - ALPHABETICAL LISTING: D |
There was no official regulation of the purity of the metal used in the industry in Canada until the early 20th century.
After 1760 Montreal gradually took over as the center of silversmithing in Canada although there were also a number of silversmiths in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. English styles became the norm and silversmiths began to use English-style maker's marks with their initials in a rectangular outline. These marks were occasionally accompanied by "Montreal", "Quebec" or "H", "HN" or "HNS" for Halifax.
|
By the early 19th century it was common to include pseudo marks that resembled British hallmarks, like sovereign's heads, lions, crowns.
|
The current Canadian hallmarking system is based on the Precious Metals Marking Act of 1985. Jewellery makers, importers and retailers are responsible for having the correct hallmarks on items. Hallmarks must be registered by the Register of Trademarks, Industry Canada in which abbreviations and inscriptions for jewellery items in either English or French are permitted.
For silver items, "sterling" (92.5% silver and 7.5% other alloys ) is considered the standard measurement for purity under federal regulations. Authentic sterling silver items are stamped with "STERLING", "STER", or "925". Hallmarks that follow the traditional British certifying system or has applied by the government of any foreign country under the laws of that country may also be placed on the item.
Where an article that is wholly manufactured in Canada is composed of a precious metal of a quality prescribed in the regulations and has an authorized quality mark applied to it, there may be applied to the article a national mark consisting of:
- a lion's head inside a letter "C"( (1934-1978)
- a maple head inside a letter "C" (after 1978)
|
(click on the photo to enlarge image)
SILVERSMITH'S NAME
|
MARK - TOWN - DATE
|
DARLING George Lacy
|
G.L.DARLING in script into a serrated contour and pseudo English hallmarks
Simcoe, Ontario c. 1850s/1890s
A retailer business. Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons |
DAVIS Henry</b>
|
London, Ontario c. 1850s |
DENMAN & BOHLE
|
Montreal, Quebec c. 1860s |
DELIQUE Charles François
|
F over DL into a floral contour
Montreal, Quebec c. 1738-1767 A retailer business. Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons |
DESROCHES Alfred
|
Montreal, Quebec c. 1850s/1890s |
DEWEY William
|
London, Ontario c. 1850s |
DOMINION JEWELRY MANUFACTURING CO
|
DJ into a rectangle
Toronto, Ontario
Active at 180 Adelaide Str. West, Toronto c. 1908. Went bankrupt c. 1910. The dies were bought by Breadner Mfg Co. |
DWIGHT & SAVAGE
|
D & S in three squares and 'canoe'
Montreal, Quebec c. 1810s |
DWIGHT James Adams
|
J.A.D in a rectangle and pseudo English hallmarks
IAD in a rectangle and pseudo English lion hallmark
Montreal, Quebec c. 1810s/1840s |
HALLMARKS OF ENGLISH SILVER -
MAKER'S MARK IDENTIFICATION
|
BRITISH TOWN MARKS AND DATE LETTERS
|
work in progress on this page - your help, corrections and suggestions will be greatly appreciated -
|