Yesterday whilst photographing other items for sale, I decided if I was going to sell this, I had better clean it first. Out came the Brasso and the polishing cloth and away I went with gusto. As I got down the handle of the spoon, I thought this is a bit light for brass and moved on to the main piece. It was only on the inside of the base rim, that I had started to clean, I suddenly realised there were what looked like hallmarks. Away went the Brasso and out came the silver polish. I thought; here we, go a bit more than a shilling for this then. In bringing it in and showing it to my daughter who kindly photographed it for me. Sadly it was not the Holy Grail of the silver world but was EPNS, which as everyone knows stands for Electroplated Nickel Silver. The marks underneath which I thought were hallmarks were in fact just makers marks and initials.
On enlarging the marks, it transpires it is the mark of Deykin & Sons of Jenens Row, Birmingham. Deykin & Sons was a partnership which was created in 1854 at the start of electroplated goods being manufactured instead of Gilt buttons which had sustained the company from its birth in 1781.
If the internet is to be believed, this item if the mark is as I believe it reads from Deykin and Sons. It was made during the period 1854 - 1895. So I ask you take a look at the marks. Look at the website: www.silvercollection.it/ and tell me if you also believe this item could have originated from the mid to late 19th Century.
As I said in the title "Not what it appears to be!".
Thanks for reading, until the next time.
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