FALSE PUNCHES, ETC.
155
into ingots, of converting them into articles of genby adding silver branches with nozzles for candles on the lower parts of the badges, transmogrified them into very handsome sconces to hang upon the walls; the old Hall-marks upon the medallions proving incontestably to an unwary purchaser the an-
ing them
down
eral use; so
tiquity of these cleverly
adapted
articles.
The duty mark of
the sovereign's head, denoting payment of This additional stamp at once the impost, was first used in 1784. proclaims the comparatively recent date of a piece of plate. To remedy this, the intrusive stamp is frequently erased, leaving only four marks, as previously used, instead of five, which, if it does not convince every collector, at any rate puzzles him, and in many instances the deception
is
successful.
Even
the experienced collector may occasionally be deceived, requires somewhat more than a hasty glance to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on the merits or demerits of a piece of plate, e.g., an isolated spoon, with cleverly imitated Hall-marks, might
and
it
pass muster, but when a whole set is produced suspicion is naturally aroused, and a more scrutinising investigation with the magnifying glass becomes necessary. We shall perchance discover that the three or four Hall-marks exactly correspond on each spoon, and all are precisely in the same relative position or distance from each other, the same angle of inclination of each punch, in fact, the exact counterpart in the minutest particular. Now a little reasoning on this coincidence will prove that such a close resemblance of one set of stamps to another amounts to an impossibility on genuine spoons, when we consider the method of stamping at the Hall, the marks being punched with several punches at different times, the maker placing his registered stamp upon the article before he sends it to be assayed, and after the assay is completed the Hall-marks are
placed by
its side.
Transformations are common, and old-fashioned articles of plate are frequently beaten out, added to, or ornamented in such a manner as to render them serviceable and attractive, still retaining the ancient Hall-mark, although it appears in a wrong position on the piece. Old saucepans of Queen Anne's time having become undishes originally saleable, are converted into tankards and mugs plain are turned into chased waiters or baskets; old decanter stands (now out of date) are, by trifling additions, turned into soy ;
frames,
etc.
These transformations have been dealt with to a certain extent & 8 Victoria, cap. 22, sect. 5. Manufacturers are allowed by 7 by this Act to add to any piece of silver a quantity not exceeding onethird of the whole, which additional piece may be sent to the Goldsmi-ths' Hall and stamped, but these additions must be made in such a manner as not to alter the original use for which it was intended thus, a piece may have a foot, handle, spout, or stand affixed; an old tankard may have a lip attached for pouring out liquids, but ;