Mark of Thomas & James Creswick, Sheffield(1811).
Marks on Foreign Silver Plate assayed at Sheffield.
(1904.) (1906.)
John Parsons & Co. used the Mark of the Crossed Keys from 1784.
(See Illustrations from Pattern Books, pp. [141], [145], [151], [179], [191].)
The Mark as above is that of H. Wilkinson & Co., their successors.
Many fine examples of old Sheffield plate are unmarked. Where marks are found it is not always possible, except by inference, to determine at what particular date the makers stamped such marks, that is at what date the specimen was made. Obviously the style of decoration indicates approximately the period, as the Sheffield platers set out to offer ware as fashionable as silver. This is determinable by comparison with similar examples made by the silversmiths. But whereas silver plate was accurately dated when it bore the stamp of the annual date letter, wherever made, Sheffield plated ware cannot offer this exactitude.
Marks when found are useful as indicating the initials of old firms who have manufactured plate from the earliest period and are still in business. But many of the marks were used over a long period and only by comparison with silver prototypes can dates be arrived at.