I had no idea how much work would be involved when I decided to turn out everything in my garage. It’s not a big garage, room for only one vehicle, but it’s packed to the gunnels, believe me. I have the crockery, cutlery, silver, porcelain and glass from the homes of about five late members of my family and friends, and just chucking out the rubbish that had collected there too entailed the filling of one skip. To say nothing of the garden rubbish , including the demolished remains of an ancient rabbit hutch! That’s just for starters.
The garage is now half empty (or half full, according to one’s viewpoint) but my house is like a china shop after a visit from the bull. Needless to say, I haven’t inherited any valuable items from the medieval period, so there hasn’t been much to inspire me to write for this blog.
However, this morning I started on a mountain of old cutlery and bits and pieces, and in the course of trying to work out what they were, when they were made, what their contents, etc. I began to consider hallmarks. Thus I learned that hallmarks on gold date back to around 1180 and Henry II. On silver it was Edward I in 1300. So it started in England.
I delved around to find helpful articles online (I was trying to identify a sardine fork, of all things), and found this one. https://woodbridgeantiques.co.uk/investigating-silver-hallmarks/ and this https://www.hungerfordarcade.com/a-short-history-and-guide-to-english-silver-hallmarks/. There are many, many more, of course.
But be warned. Before you feel the urge to turf out everything in the garage, attic, basement, shed , whatever, think very carefully. You could end up a shadow of your former self with aches and pains in non-existent parts of your body! I know whereof I speak!
murreyandblue 