DL Trade Silver
My Hallmarks
Marks on Indian trade silver vary, and a rare few pieces had a full set of marks. Most had the makers mark or company mark (like HB). Many had the standard mark, and a few had the town mark (Quebec, Montreal).
Products made for the English, or white-colonial markets usually had all of the above and a stylized letter that represented the year they were made. This date mark also served as an assay mark verifying that the piece had been tested for silver quality,
After 1784 another mark was added. The profile picture of the reigning monarch indicated that the required duty tax had been paid.
Makers Mark - DL
An abstraction of my initials is stamped on every piece that I make.
Standard Mark (as designed)
The passant lion mark, is my personal guarantee of Sterling quality silver.
Standard Mark (as used)
The above details would not work at a 4mm width, so this is the actual stamp that I use.
Standard Mark from the 18th century
The passant-guardant lion mark, was used by silversmiths during the colonial era and the lion faces the viewer. (My version that does not face the viewer is a clue that you are looking at a piece that was not made during the fur trade era.)
Alternate Standard Mark
This modern .925 mark for sterling is used on the back of smaller pieces like the ring brooches, where the lion won't fit.
