Featured Strange mark on Victorian locket/book chain parure.

Hi joolies
I just got this parure in original fitted box, described as unmarked silver plate...
It was heavily tarnished, the applied ivy wreath, flowers and leaves are shiny rose and green gold, in aesthetic style.


The locket is huge, 7cm or 2.3/4" long from top of the bale, and contains two charming photographs.

There is a strange (seems engraved, not a punch) mark on top of the pendant bale and on bracelet's side.

I found nothing on the book chain nor the spring rings
I read from top to bottom
I 14 R D
and h on the left J on the right.

If someone could help with that, I'd be very happy!

Weight:
Locket 25 grams
Chain with extender 70 grams
Bracelet 32 grams

 

Wow, kyra! Wow, wow, wow! You lucky girl!
I have seen that mark before, but where.... Did you search the silverplate marks:
http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate__menu.html
It looks like silver, but that mark... and they sold it as silverplate.

Edit: totally irrelevant, except for the wows.

 

British registration mark, no help on metal content (should be hallmarked), but useful to date the design...

http://www.925-1000.com/registry.html

~Cheryl

 

Thanks Cheryl, I should have known, I even bookmarked the page. So it is 1880, which is right in the Aesthetic period. Not that there was any doubt.

No wear, I wouldn't be surprised if it was silver. I'd have it tested.

 

Fantastic help! Thank you Cheryl!
So it is from September 14th 1880

 

Would think pieces of that size would be hallmarked if solid silver...

~Cheryl

 

Thanks AJ for the above wow's
I'm pretty sure it is silver, the gold applications are quality, as are the hinges and bale junction. The links are thin plaques.

 

So would I, but you never know, especially if it was commissioned. My mother could never wait to have jewellery that was made for her assayed and marked. She would say "oh, don't bother, I'll take it now".

 

Yep! I found that sometimes commissioned pieces could be unmarked:
http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13275

 

That slit in the velvet just below the necklace, could that have held a ring? Or is it something else.

 

Doubt the design would have been registered if commissioned, and suspect if there was time to make a fitted case, there was time to have it hallmarked...

~Cheryl

 

It is for a brooch! Now on the hunt for one

 

Of course, logically as registered design it should have been hallmarked... I must test it

 

That shouldn't be hard to find, and you'll have a complete set.

 

When the design was registered & when a piece in that design was made are not necessarily the same.

I'm afraid if I type all the WOW!s required I'll get a repetitive motion injury.

 

you could just....

WOW......very WOW......no really..." WOW " !!!!

Kyra.....that's a STUNNER !!!!!!

 

Right of course, Bronwen! As for a patent date
for the typing WOW repetitive motion injury part of your comment! Thanks!!!

 

The rings holding the plaques....am I seeing dirt.....or stamps on them???

 

THAAAANK YOUUU KOMO!

 

Well... No red nor green nor any other color from my attempt to test different parts on a touch stone with silver acid
I have an other old bookchain which is white metal, no such quality!