The re-examination Hallmark of 1807 - Silver Miniatures from Holland- Zilveren Miniaturen- Miniaturen aus Silber

The re-examination Hallmark of 1807

Many people have asked me about the re-examination or reinspection mark of the crowned letter O which has been stamped on some of our silver miniatures.

Silver objects below a certain weight (ca.120 grams) were often exempted from assay, reason why many of our 18^th century miniatures are unmarked.

However the re-examination hallmark (crowned O) was introduced to hallmark silver objects of an earlier date when it was resold. As early as the 14th century every silversmith was bound by the guilds to submit any object he had made to be hallmarked: The maker’s mark and a town mark which gave the purchaser a guarantee that the silver was of reputable quality. Also a date letter, so that if needed to find out who was the deacon of the guild when that guarantee had been given. The town marks provided the commonest mark of origin but there are exceptions. In 1663 the crowned provincial lions were introduced as hallmarks for the provinces of Holland and West Friesland. In 1695 for Friesland and in 1696 for Zeeland, guaranteeing that the objects stamped was standard silver of 934/1000 purity. In 1798 the guilds were abolished. Silver however still had to be submitted to the assay offices, but the hallmarks were changed. After a transitional period of the Batavian Republic, The Kingdom of Holland, The French Annexation, new regulations were introduced in 1813.No longer on a provincial, but on a National basis.

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