Help with sterling mark - left facing head

[silverdollarbill]

Hey everyone....found this set at a sale that started an hour earlier. Seems they had just brought it out. "Always check" as a rule has really been paying off lately.

Anyone know what this mark this is? It's a "man's face facing to the left". The closest I found was the French Mercury mark, but I don't think that is it. https://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html There is also an "AA" mark.



Also, found this 1840 American ladle. I thought it was coin, but I think it's sterling.


thx bill

 

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Hey everyone....found this set at a sale that started an hour earlier. Seems they had just brought it out. "Always check" as a rule has really been paying off lately.

Anyone know what this mark this is? It's a "man's face facing to the left". The closest I found was the French Mercury mark, but I don't think that is it. https://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html There is also an "AA" mark.

View attachment 1870513 View attachment 1870514

Also, found this 1840 American ladle. I thought it was coin, but I think it's sterling.
View attachment 1870515

thx bill

Looks like it’s a Indian head hallmark

 

[Red-Coat]

It is indeed an Indian head, and is one of the marks used by the International Silver Company. The flatware pattern is “Napoleon”, dating from 1910. It’s technically a Wilcox & Evertsen pattern, but produced under the ownership of the Meriden Britannia Company, as part of the ISC.



The 'AA' is just a manufacturer quality mark. The company started in 1889 in NY as Rowan & Wilcox; became Wilcox & Evertsen in 1892; was bought by Meriden Britannia in 1896 and moved to Meriden, Connecticut. Then Meriden were one of the founder members of the ISC conglomerate in 1898, with flatware production moved to Wallingford, CT.

I believe the fiddleback ladle will be coin silver if it has this 'C. Allen & Co.' mark.



Caleb Allen was a small independent maker working with his brother William from 1837-1840 and I don’t think they produced in Sterling. In 1846 they formed a new partnership as “C. & W.H. Allen”, continuing until 1873 and flatware with that mark might conceivably be Sterling.

 

[silverdollarbill]

Thanks Red-Coat....really helpful. I never new IS used the Indian Head as a mark.

The C. Allen ladle looks like it is coin silver.

thanks again....really appreciate it!

 

[tamrock]

First I've ever seen that mark. Good find.