HALL MARKS ON PLATE
282
BRLSTOL. Bristol may, perhaps, have had an office, for there were several silversmiths there, who afterwards sent their goods to Exeter to be
assayed. It is not, however, by any means certain that the right of assay v/as ever exercised at this city although it was appointed as an assay office in 1423, and reappointed in 1700. Indeed though we have ;
inquired from a leading silversmith at Bristol, trace
we have
failed to
local silver.
any There is a cup on a stem, ornamented with punched diamond pattern, which from the inscription appears to have been made in this town, although it bears no hall mark. It is late sixteenth century
work
:
f
In the possession of Sir A. H. Elton, Bart.
I
]
I
From Mendep Out
I
was brought,
of a leden mine In Bristol I was wrought, And now am silver fine." ;
There are some interesting pieces of plate preserved by the Corporation of Bristol, especially a pair of gilt tankards richly decorated, the gift of John Dodridge, Recorder of Bristol, 1658, and a These were both gilt ewer and salver, the gift of Robert Kitchen. assayed and marked in London. The salver made in 1595 was stolen during the Bristol riots in October, 1831, and was cut up into one hundred and sixty-seven pieces, in which state it was offered for sale to a silversmith of the town, who apprehended the thief, and he was sentenced to fourteen years' transportation. The pieces were riveted together on a silver plate by the same silversmith, in which state it now remains, its history being recorded on the back. A State sword, bearing date 1483, ornamented and enamelled, is also preserved; on one of the mounts are the arms of Bristol. These are: Gules, on a mount in the sinister base vert on the sinister side a castle zi'ith two towers domed on each a pennon all argent, the dexter base barry wavy of six argent and azure, thereon a ship with three masts sailing from behind the castle or the fore attd main masts in sight sable on each two sails of the second. Also two unicorns as supporters, and the crest on a wreath two arms, one holding a serpent and the other a pair of scales, as on the seal of the corporation.