Assay Offices

There are four remaining assay offices in the UK and one in Ireland, authorised to test silver for fineness and apply hallmarks to those items that pass the tests. Their websites give useful information about their history and the process of hallmarking. In addition there are databases of makers’ or sponsors’ marks at Birmingham and Edinburgh and an identification service at Sheffield.

London                         Birmingham                         Sheffield                         Edinburgh

Other Sources for Marks

The main reference points for establishing marks are probably still books, such as ‘London Goldsmiths. Their Marks & Lives 1697 – 1837’ by Arthur Grimwade and 'Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks' edited by Ian Pickford. There are also a number of useful websites, among which are these:

925-1000.com  -   Lists many American, British and other marks

silvermakersmarks  -  British silver marks

silvercollecting  - More American marks

Antique Silver Dealers

There are a number of dealers who have an extensive selection of silver wine labels and we list below several such dealers. This listing should not be regarded as endorsements of these dealers or recommendations but it does reflect the fact that all deal in  labels and have, or plan to have, links to the Circle’s site.

MEMBERS OF THE CIRCLE

Antique Silver Spoons  -  Apart from spoons, also has a wide range of other collectable silver, including wine and sauce labels; established in the 1980s.

Butler's Antiques  -  Robin Butler concentrates on high quality antique wine accessories and displays some fine pieces, including wine labels. He has 50 years experience in such matters.

J H Bourdon-Smith  -  Highly respected family firm founded by John Bourdon-Smith in 1951, with good range of silver including labels.

Mary Cooke Antiques  -  Specialises in eighteenth and early nineteenth century British silver and collectors items, including labels; founded by Mary Cooke forty years ago.

Schredds  -  Established in 1970 and now well known for a range of "inspired silver smalls" including wine labels.

Steppes Hill Farm  - Established in the 1960s and specialising in collectors' silver, including wine labels, and also fine porcelain.

Wyard Druitt decanter labels  -  A website featuring attractive modern decanter labels designed by Michael Druitt.

OTHERS

Coritani  -  Labels included among high quality silver and glass with an emphasis on good condition

Silfren  -  Some 'bottle labels' included in a large online selection of antique silver.

Auction Houses

Wine labels come up for sale at many auction houses in the UK. Several of the larger houses regularly include labels in their sales and we list these below, though we would emphasise that other houses also sell labels from time to time

Bonhams  -  Wine label sales usually at their Knightsbridge auction rooms but sometimes in Bond Street and outside London

Christies  -  Occasional wine label sales, usually at Christies South Kensington, London

Dukes of Dorchester  -  Include labels in their sales and have a major collection to sell in June 2012

Lawrences of Crewkerne  -  Well regarded auction house in the south-west, including labels in their silver sales

Lyon & Turnbull  -  Edinburgh based but now establishing a presence in southern England.

Woolley & Wallis  -  Leading provincial auction house with a saleroom in Salisbury. Wine labels appear regularly in their quarterly silver sales.

Other Societies and Information

Enamel labels  -  A collection of articles on enamel labels by Dr Richard Wells, probably the leading authority on the subject

The Silver Society  -  London based society with the aim of widening the appreciation and knowledge of work in silver, plate and other precious metals, both antique and contemporary. Publishes a prestigious journal 'Silver Studies' once a year.

The Silver Spoon Club  -  While concentrating on spoons, its magazine 'The Finial' has extensive illustrations of marks.