What does she represent?Please enlighten me Silver fob with Tho's Cook Esq 50 engraved. Around 2 inches tall. 1850/1950 or just a 50th?! Thankyou
My first thought was school award, but would schoolboy Thomas Cook be designated Esquire? The way the name is abbreviated & the form of the S in Esq., & overall quality suggest some age. Don't know how far into the 19th century that S persisted. Of course, engraving may be deliberately 'quaint'. And don't know how far into the 20th century it could be assumed anyone knew who Clio is. Suppose if you were getting a British public school education you'd know this stuff.
When I was a child I had an aunt who would occasionally write me letters. They were always addressed Esq. I never asked her about it, but it think it was the form to use before a boy became a Mr.
In the United Kingdom, Esquire historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman and below the rank of knight. In 1826, William Blackstone reiterated that, "the title should be limited to those only who bear an office of trust under the Crown and who are styled esquires by the king in their commissions and appointments; and all, I conceive, who are once honoured by the king with the title of esquire have a right to that distinction for life."[4][5] By the early 20th century, it came to be used as a general courtesy title for any man in a formal setting, usually as a suffix to his name, as in "Todd Smith, Esq.", with no precise significance. In the United Kingdom today, it is still occasionally used as a written style of address in formal or professional correspondence.[6][7] In certain formal contexts, it remains an indication of a social status that is recognised in the order of precedence.[8] In the United States, Esquire is mostly used to denote a lawyer in a departure from traditional use and is irrespective of gender. In letters, a lawyer is customarily addressed by adding the suffix Esquire (abbreviated Esq.), preceded by a comma, after the lawyer's full name.[9]
The engraving and embossing style, font, shape of the fob and the quality of the depiction. Lovely bit of hand engraving on the script.
So the age of it could be why it's not marked 925?. Is it did odd it's not hallmarked or was that fairly common? So glad I picked her out of a box of scrap bits and pieces. I think I may put her on a keyring or as Marko suggested on a chain so she can see the light of day. This is the big problem with this forum- once I find the history of something I get attached to it so the hoard is growing. On the other hand some bits that I used to like I'm now happy to let go.
It's very common for small earlier British silver to have no markings at all. Assay marks cost money, and jobbing silversmiths often didn't bother. I'd keep that too.
