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Quiz about Stirring My Soup With A Silver Spoon

Stirring My Soup With A Silver Spoon Quiz

A quiz for silver collectors. Since I first collected US hand-made coin spoons, this quiz will deal with UK silversmiths. Hey, collecting is a passion, and who ever said a passion was logical?

A multiple-choice quiz by ragiel. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
ragiel

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
163,102

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
546

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When I first picked up a reference on English silver, I thought "Easy! These hallmarks will tell all about them!" Years later, I have to modify that statement with "Well, kind of, sometimes..."
When were hallmarks first used (to indicate the quality of silver) in London? Hint

1420

1285

1300

1365

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What percentage of silver in the alloy is required to merit the description "sterling?" Hint

92.5%

90%

95.00%

85.75%

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The organization controlling the manufacture and quality of silver objects in London was called... Hint

The Registered Assembly of Goldsmiths

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths

The Anointed Guild of Silversmiths

The Reverent Company of Silversmiths

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. A spoon with a bearded and haloed figure cast in silver and soldered to the handle is called... Hint

a Christ-top spoon

an apostle spoon

a King's head spoon

a crusader spoon

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Question 5 of 10

5. A "fully hallmarked" spoon of the late-18th through late-19th century should have a quality mark, a location mark for the assay office, a maker's mark, a date mark, and a duty stamp. What form did the duty stamp take? Hint

A crown.

A fish or dolphin.

A pair of crossed arrows.

A head of the reigning monarch.

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following cities did not have an assayer's office authorized to test and stamp English silver? Hint

Exeter

Edinburgh

Newcastle

Sheffield

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Question 7 of 10

7. Now I'd like to buy myself just one special spoon to eat cereal or soup with. I want an old one, but in good enough condition to last a lifetime. Where on a spoon should I look for the first sign of wear? Hint

The front of the handle.

The tip and edge of the bowl.

The back of the bowl.

The hallmarks.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. I love my spoon! Next, wouldn't it be nice to have a fork that matches it? I start looking, but soon find that forks are less common than spoons and much more expensive! Some reasons for this could include... Hint

Forks more easily become bent and damaged when dropped.

Forks have fragile tines that wear out easily.

All of these.

More spoons than forks were made, because they were used for more purposes than the forks.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Silver collectors are always saying things like "It's marked 1804." The date isn't spelled out, but they consult one of the stamped hallmarks. What does a date mark look like? Hint

A letter of the alphabet.

A castle or tower surrounded by different numbers of dots.

A combination of numbers.

A dolphin or fish.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. I saw a spoon that was stamped with only its maker's initials. Was it a fake of some kind? Why would a silversmith not send a piece through the legal assay process? Hint

The hallmarks were mandatory on items meant for sale, but if the silversmith made a piece for his own or his family's use it did not need the hallmark.

The silversmith could not have his work formally marked for sale because he was working in a town with no assay office.

Hallmarks were customarily placed on only one or two pieces of a set.

The spoon was imported from abroad, and the assay office did not deal with foreign silver.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When I first picked up a reference on English silver, I thought "Easy! These hallmarks will tell all about them!" Years later, I have to modify that statement with "Well, kind of, sometimes..." When were hallmarks first used (to indicate the quality of silver) in London?

Answer: 1300

This stamped mark, a leopard's (or lion's) head, indicated that the silver had been assayed and found to be of sterling quality.

2. What percentage of silver in the alloy is required to merit the description "sterling?"

Answer: 92.5%

This alloy of silver was the standard for British coinage until 1920. It is still standard for fine silver in US, UK, and most European countries, as well as in their former colonies. The remainder of the alloy is copper, added to improve hardness and strength.

3. The organization controlling the manufacture and quality of silver objects in London was called...

Answer: The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths

As well as testing and enforcing the legal standards, this Company keeps records of each smith's identifying mark and certifies the completion of apprenticeships. Until the late 19th century, the word "goldsmith" referred to workers in both gold and silver. The Company's museum and records are an extremely rich source of historical information for silver enthusiasts.

4. A spoon with a bearded and haloed figure cast in silver and soldered to the handle is called...

Answer: an apostle spoon

These were occasionally made in sets of twelve, plus a special spoon with the image of Christ. More often, one spoon with the namesake apostle would be given as a christening present. These ornate and popular spoons are still being reproduced.

Answer: A head of the reigning monarch.

A male portrait facing left was used for the last two years of George I's reign. The profiles of George II, III, and IV, as well as William IV, all faced to the right. Victoria was shown as a young woman facing left. This type of marking was discontinued in 1890, except for special occasions, such as royal coronation and jubilee years.

6. Which of the following cities did not have an assayer's office authorized to test and stamp English silver?

Answer: Edinburgh

Edinburgh did have a major assay office, but has always been located in Scotland!

Answer: The tip and edge of the bowl.

Looking down at your own hand as you hold a spoon, you can see that the edge of the bowl near the tip and the tip itself will be the first to come in contact with your bowl or cup. Since silver is a soft metal, this part will wear down first. Well-made spoons are often made thicker and heavier in the tip.

Answer: All of these.

Desirable old forks have been faked by reshaping the more common spoon bowls into tines.

9. Silver collectors are always saying things like "It's marked 1804." The date isn't spelled out, but they consult one of the stamped hallmarks. What does a date mark look like?

Answer: A letter of the alphabet.

By using first capital and then small letters (excluding J, V, W, X, Y, and Z) a twenty-year cycle could be marked. Then the next cycle would start over with a different style of letter. Styles and cycles did not necessarily correspond between the assay centers. Several pocket-sized guidebooks to the common date letters are available.

10. I saw a spoon that was stamped with only its maker's initials. Was it a fake of some kind? Why would a silversmith not send a piece through the legal assay process?

Answer: The hallmarks were mandatory on items meant for sale, but if the silversmith made a piece for his own or his family's use it did not need the hallmark.

No set could be sold as silver without the proper markings on each piece. Special marks to indicate imported silver were available, and silversmiths who worked far from an assay office had to send their work to the nearest one available. A piece never meant to be placed on sale was not required to be marked, but the maker usually signed his creations with his own stamp.

Excuse me, but I'm getting hungry and that soup on the stove smells wonderful! Will you join me?

Source: Author ragiel

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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