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Sterling silver. Sterling silver is an alloy composed by weight of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Fine silver, which is 99.9% pure silver, is relatively soft, so silver is usually alloyed with copper to increase its hardness and strength.
The mark for silver meeting the sterling standard of purity is the Lion Passant, but there have been other variations over the years, most notably the mark indicating Britannia purity. The Britannia standard was obligatory in Britain between 1697 and 1720 to try to help prevent British sterling silver coins from being melted to make silver plate .
The Scandinavian silver alloy contains 83% pure silver and 17% copper or other metals. [10] German silver will be marked with a millesimal fineness of 800 or 835 (80% or 83.5% pure silver). Any items simply marked "German silver", "nickel silver" or "Alpaca" have no silver content at all, but are mere alloys of other base metals. [citation needed]
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals —such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term hallmark is used to refer to any standard of quality.
Towle Silversmiths. Punch bowl by Towle Silversmiths, c. 1912. Towle Silversmiths is an American silver manufacturer. [1] Towle Silversmiths was founded in 1690 by William Moulton II, the first silversmith in Newbury, Mass. [2][3] Moulton's family continued to operate the shop, and in 1857 apprentices Anthony Francis Towle and William P. Jones ...
During the heyday of American silver manufacturing, approximately 1850–1940, Gorham was highly influential. William Christmas Codman, one of Gorham's most noted designers, created the Chantilly design in 1895, which has become the most famous of Gorham's flatware patterns. The company has produced matching hollowware in both sterling and ...