Posted 12 years ago
Adie
(6 items)
Hi, I bought this necklace off E-bay some time ago as costume jewellery. When I received it my daughter gave a bit of a clean up with a toothbrush and found that it had some hallmarks on the back.
I would love to know when and where this piece may have been made.
In very fine etching done by hand on the back ( seen with a magnifying glass) there is the name Rebecca Donaldson, what I think is 1 Kent Rd? Rue?
Any information from anyone that might know would be greatly appreciated :)
Thankyou.
has an Irish look to it. I Understand that this style was in the era when they hadn't quite let go of the celtic ways & still loved the runes. Problem is they have been copied for centuries.
The anchor is Birmingham in England. So you can look here and find out the year.
http://www.925-1000.com/dlBirmingham.html
Check the T & Co frm the alphabetical list and at right the table for the date letter? The style of the letter and its surround gives the year.
Good luck.
The cross has a Celtic look as blunderbuss points out. I think there is also some gold on those leaves. Mixed-metal work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_cross
There's no import mark so it was made in England for Tiffany, if that's their mark. I reckon Sean might well be right though.
Hi Sean, what's the griffin mark?
I'm unfamiliar with it.
Wow, thanks everyone. This sounds very exciting, ..I'm not sure if I'm more confused now than I was before! :) I'd be very interested in having this valued but would have no idea where to start. Im unable to go to Tiffany & Co as I live in Australia but have sent them an email (unable to attach pic) hopefully they might get back to me soon!?
I had a look at the date chart and from I can see it might be from around 1830's?
Hi Adie! I'm in Sydney.
I think that Tiffany has an outlet in Melbourne in Collins St.
The 1830's is early for Tiffany; they began in 1837.
I think that it was later than that. Have a look at 1884.
The cut off edges on the cartouche and the small case 'k' suggest 1884.
As to Tiffany, have a look here and you'll see some marks like yours.
http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-T.html
I'm still thinking Turton & Co or a more likely Tiffany.
The griffin threw me Sean.
Strangely it was the name of my rock group here in Sydney in the 60's.
Tiffany opened in London At 29 Argyll St in 1868 ( or 1872) it seems. There was a branch in Paris even earlier in 1850 at 79 rue de Richelieu and yet another office and watch making factory in Geneva by 1868. Your cross was assayed in Birmingham in 1884 and probably made there for Tiffany & Co.
I thought I'd look into this one a little more and found this from an English Site for valuations:
A silver and gold overlaid cross pendant.
It was made in Birmingham - in fact in
1884 by Thomas and company.
It looks as though some of the leaves
have some gold overlay on them - an often used Birmingham form of
enhancement and decoration. It's a Celtic cross, probably made for sale in
Scotland or Ireland. You don't mention any marks on the chain but it looks
as though they started off life together.
Height: 4.5 cm, Width: 3 cm, Depth: 0.5 cm
Valued at £120.
There you go Adie! Thanks for the update!
Season's Greetings to you and Yours, Adie!
How's Adelaide?