terminology

Assay

Assay offices (London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sheffield and Dublin) exist to test the standard of precious metals, and qualify their standard by hallmarking

Britannia silver

95.8% silver (hallmark 958)

Casting

Creating an object by pouring molten metal into a mould

Chasing

Creating texture, decoration and form by using hammers and punches on the exterior of an object

Enameling

Enamel is a type of glass which is ground very finely and then applied to the metal surface and fired in a hot kiln

engraving

Surface decoration created by creating linear marks using gravers or burin

fine silver

99% silver without alloy (hallmark 999)

gilding

a fine layer of gold applied by electrolysis

Hallmarks

Assay office marks which guarantee the standard of silver, the year of manufacture and makers name. Click here to read the Assay office’s dealer notice.

Keum-boo

An ancient Korean technique which fuses gold leaf via heat to the surface of silver objects

mokumé gané

Japanese technique which layers various metals (silver, gilding metal, copper etc)

oxidisation

The discolouration of silver, created chemically via contact with oxygen

patination

Adding colour to silver via chemicals and heat

planishing

Using a hammer or rollers to flatten sheet metal

+ metal

Mark given by the Assay Office to record the inclusion of additional metals

raising

A flat sheet of silver hammered up into a three dimensional form via the use of metal stakes.

repoussé

Creating relief decoration via hammering from the interior of an object

silver gilt

Silver, plated with gold

sterling silver

925% silver (hallmark 925)

solder

Joining silver by using a strip of molten alloy

welding

Joining metal via heat, without solder, in some cases using TIG welding