help with date and numbers on this Birks sterling piece

[snowdogg70]

hi everyone i had some good luck at the garage sales today and managed to pick up a bunch of silver (more i will be listing shortly)
with this piece i am asking you first of all what is it?,2nd what year is this hallmark,3rd what does the 38/20 mean? and last whats the value? thanks for your help i look forward to your responses

 

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[snowdogg70]

was i right thinking this year is 1851?

 

[surf]

Hello snowdogg,

I believe this is a porringer. I'm unsure if the Canadians use the British letter date codes, and I cannot make out that 3rd symbol or letter. Here's the British lettering chart:

English silver marks: the guide to hallmarks of London sterling silver

Can't speak for the 38 / 20. A past auction result: http://www.auctionflex.com/showlot.ap?co=1&weid=14361&weiid=5099499&archive=y&lso=priceasc&pagenum=5&lang=En

 

[CRUSADER]

Its sudo-British, made to look like ours but its clearly not. I think there were US makers that did this. Who ever it is, you can rule out British. We also never marked things with 'Sterling', we made that standard & its implied by our 'Lion' mark.

 

[GpSnoopy]

From the type of font being used (no serifs), and the first mark appears to be a lion's head surrounded by a C, this item is no older than 1930. Haven't yet figured out what the 38/20 is.....

There are 3 possible dates for your "C", and I'm leaning towards 1958, but will let you decide for yourself.

http://www.justinteeantiques.com/news.html

In 1925 Birks received permission from the London assay office to mark their sterling silver with a date letter cycle that corresponded to the London cycle. From this time most of their hollowware was marked with Birks Sterling (no serifs) and a set of pseudo hallmarks that included a sheaf of wheat (Trademarked by Birks), a lion passant, and a date letter that corresponded to the London date letter for the year of production. Their flatware was typically marked simply with Birks Sterling (no serifs), sometimes followed with the date letter and very occasionally with the full set of pseudo marks. In the late 30s the sheaf of wheat mark was replaced by the Canadian National Mark (a Lion’s head surrounded by a C).

 

[usedpc4u]

I have similar dilemma.
Similar bowl, similar marks but on the bottom of the bowl marked "Original Hall Marked 1662"

Please help

Hi,