ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
ASCAS
article # 77
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by Giorgio Busetto
 
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ELKINGTON ELECTROPLATE SILVER / SILVER PLATE
MARKS AND DATE LETTERS
Elkington-Elkington, Mason & Co-Elkington & Co-Elkington & C (note 11)

The earliest electroplate made by Elkington's was marked with 'E & Co' crowned in a shield and the word ELEC TRO PLATE in three portions.
Elkington hallmark 1840 Elkington hallmark 1841
1840
1841 (note 6)
Elkington hallmark 1842-1864 Elkington hallmark 1865-1897
1842-1864 (note 1)(note 7)
1865-1897 (note 2)

In 1841 and again in 1842 the mark was changed and a date number was added. The date number was in use from 1841 to 1848 (the 6 was reversed).
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848
NUMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 (rev.) 7 8
see (note 6) for 1845, 1847 and 1848 mark
 
In 1849 the series was altered to letters, beginning with K
Elkington hallmark 1849-1864 Elkington hallmark 1859
 
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864
LETTER K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
see (note 1) for 1849(K), 1852(N), 1853(O), 1854 and 1861 marks
see (note 5) for a variant of 1853 mark
see (note 7) for 1849, 1850 and 1858 mark
see (note 10) for 1851 "M" mark
see (note 20) for "HP" intertwined letters into a lozenge
see (note 21) for "F" letter into a lozenge
With the beginning of the new series of letters in 1865 the mark was also changed. The date letter left out B, C, I and J, while Q, not used by the sheet department and only partially by the cast department, was used as well R in 1877.
Elkington date letter 1865-1885

date letter
1865-1885
 Elkington hallmark 1873
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875
LETTER A D E F G H K L M N O
see (note 2) for 1865 mark     see (note 3) for 1870 mark     see (note 8) for 1868 mark     see (note 16) for 1869 G mark
DATE 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885  
LETTER P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  
see (note 2) for 1881(V), 1883(X), 1884 and 1885(Z) mark

Slightly different marks were used in 1898-1899 and from 1900 onwards.
 
Elkington hallmark 1898-1899 Elkington hallmark 1900 onwards
1898-1899
1900 onwards
Elkington date letter 1886-1911

date letter
1886-1911
 Elkington hallmark 1900
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898
LETTER A B C D E F G H I J K L M
see (note 15) for 1892 mark 
DATE 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911
LETTER N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Elkington date letter 1912-1936

date letter
1912-1936
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924
LETTER A B C D E F G H I J K L M
see (note 9) for 1914 "C" mark
see (note 12) for 1912 "A" mark
see (note 22) for 1921 "J" mark
DATE 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936  
LETTER N O P R S T U V W X Y Z  
see (note 14) for 1936 "Z" mark     see (note 17) for 1928 "R" mark       see (note 18) for 1934 mark
Elkington date letter 1937-1960

date letter
1937-1960
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948
LETTER A B D E F G H I J K L M
see (note 14) for 1939 mark

DATE 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
LETTER N O P R S T U V W X Y Z
see (note 19) for 1957(W) mark
Elkington date letter 1961-1968

date letter
1961-1986
(but production at Walsall stopped in 1968)
(click on "yellow date" for image)
DATE 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969? 1970?    
LETTER a b c d e f g h i j  
see (note 4) for 1970? mark


NOTES
note 1: exceptions were found to this rule. In this page 1849(K), 1852(N), 1853(O), 1854 and 1861 marks using "&" instead of "M gothic"
note 2: exceptions were found to this rule. In this page an example of 1865, 1881(V), 1883(X), 1884 and 1885 mark where "M gothic" is still used
note 3: references note that the "lozenge" was used from 1849 to 1864 and mark "H in a lozenge" was never used. A little mystery is a mark with "H into a lozenge" coupled to the UK Patent Office lozenge of a model registered in 1868 (date "march 11, 1868"). Maybe this was an anomalous use of 1870 mark (letter into a lozenge instead of in a square)
note 4: references note that production stopped in 1868. Mark "J in a circle" refers presumably to 1970 outside Walsall
note 5: a gravy ladle with 1853 Elkington marks is punched also GJ ABD . Presumably it refers to an item retailed by George Jamison in Aberdeen
note 6: exceptions were found to this rule. On this page examples of 1845, 1847 and 1848 date number were used together with 1841 mark
note 7: exceptions were found to this rule. On this page examples of 1849, 1850 and 1858 date letters using 1841 mark
note 8: a variant of 1868 mark (letter "F" into a square inside a lozenge) was found in a large plaque with mythological motif
note 9: a variant of 1914 mark was found (slightly different shape of letter "C" incuse)
note 10: a variant of 1851 mark was found ("E" instead of gothic )

note 11: Elkington table of marks presented on this page is based on the information contained in:
- Victorian Electroplate, by Shirley Burly, The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd, 1971
- Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, Dorothy T. Rainwater & Judy Redfield, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, fourth Edition, 1998
The images presented on this page document many differences compared to the reference literature, demostrating that Elkington never adopted a rigourous system of marks and the use of exceptions or discontinuous marks was a common practice for its production.
note 12: present also retailer's mark: A.T. Wiley & Co Ld, Montreal
note 14: present the mark of Cunard White Star
note 15: Elkington & Co in script
note 16: possibly a variant of 1869 date letter: "G" into a lozenge instead of into a square
note 17: marked also Marrison Hotel
note 18: marked also Monarchy
note 19: possibly 1957: marked "Cassidy's '57"
note 20: date not identified for an unusual "HP" intertwined into a lozenge mark. A suggested hypothesis is that Elkington outsourced some work to John Henry Potter of Rockingham Works, Sheffield to fulfil some large commission (possibly the contract with the Hotel Cecil in London which was being built in 1896) Elkington date mark HP intertwined into a lozenge
note 21: date unknown for an unusual "F" into a lozenge mark found on a napkin ring Elkington date mark F into a lozenge
note 22: mark's incuse of different shape
ELKINGTON HISTORY
Elkington & Co. are one of the most important names in English silver and certainly the most important in silver plate. They began life in Birmingham as a company of silversmiths in 1836, and experimented with improving gilding techniques. By 1838 they had discovered and patented a new way to electroplate one metal on to the surface of another. By 1840 production was already underway with silver electroplated wares. The company received financial backing from Josiah Mason in 1842 (renaming the firm Elkington, Mason & Co between 1842 and 1861) and was extremely successful. It introduced electrotyping as a new method of production for silver plated items. Elkington & Co exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 with enormous success.
 
Elkington design, circa 1860 Elkington by Dresser design Elkington Royal Warrant
In 1885 Elkington registered designs by Christopher Dresser. Dresser's designs included tea services, sugar bowls, claret jugs, kettles, cruet stands, baskets, a tureen and a tankard. His models are recorded in Elkington's silver and plated ware pattern-books.
Elkington held Royal Warrants for Queen Victoria, King Edward VI, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI. The Elkington & Co. name is still in use today as manufacturers under the auspices of British Silverware Ltd.

 
ELKINGTON AT THE 1851 GREAT EXHIBITION

Elkington partecipated in the Metalware section of the 1851 Great Exhibition held in Hyde Park in London in the specially constructed Crystal Palace.
These are images of Elkington production exhibited at Crystal Palace obtained from "The Art Journal illustrated catalogue. The industry of all nations 1851. London, George Virtue, 1851"
 
Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: claret jug Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: claret jug Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: centre-piece Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: Elizabethan style vase
Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: Communion Service Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: jewel-case
Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: two vases Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: vase and jug Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: Fruit Dish Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: Fruit Dish
Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: tea and coffee service Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: tea and coffee service Elkington at the 1851 Great Exhibition: candlestick and flower vase


Giorgio Busetto
- 2007-
 www.silvercollection.it
English text revised by Jayne Dye