Antique 1913 Edwardian silver-collared Trident searing fork. This stunning small fork is hallmarked on collar for Sheffield, 1913, silver by j.a.s. The handle is probably bakelite. The fork itself is marked epns or ns nickel silver.
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Size: 20 cm long 4 cm wide at fork.
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There is some minor age related wear. It is a lovely collectors piece.
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The silver hallmark "J.A.S." likely indicates a maker's mark from Sheffield, England, potentially belonging to J.A. Scholes, and could signify a piece made around 1918.
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Here's a more detailed breakdown:
J.A.S. as a Maker's Mark:
The initials "J.A.S." are commonly associated with the Sheffield silversmith J.A. Scholes.
Sheffield Assay Office:
The Sheffield Assay Office is responsible for hallmarking silver and gold items produced in Sheffield, England.
Date Letter:
The date letter, which is part of the hallmark, can help determine the year the item was made. In this case, the date letter associated with "J.A.S." could indicate 1918.
Sheffield's Hallmarking History:
In 1973, Sheffield switched from using a Crown mark to a Rose mark for both silver and gold.
Other Hallmarks to Look For:
Besides the maker's mark and date letter, other hallmarks on a silver piece might include the standard mark (indicating the silver's purity) and the assay office mark (indicating where the piece was hallmarked).