9th February 2012
One for Fotodeal & three for me
I've always liked folding bow corkscrews & have been
lucky to acquire some very nice ones over the years. I
recently struck a deal to buy four little crackers. Three
silver examples & a steel two tool example.
The silver examples are all English.
Top left, was hallmarked in 1893 at the Birmingham
assay office & was manufactured by silversmiths
Constantine & Floyd.
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Alfred Constantine and William Henry Floyd initially had their business at Caroline Street, Birmingham. Marks were
registered at Birmingham, London and Chester. They moved their business in 1903 to 14, Regent Place,
Birmingham. The firm was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1901 under the style of Constantine &
Floyd Ltd. They opened a branch in 1903 at 45, Hatton Garden, London. Constantine & Floyd Ltd were eventually
absorbed in 1931 by H. Williamson Ltd.
Top left, is a very fine steel bow with stunning faceted detail, a superb cyphered wire helix. It has a hanging ring so
it could be attached, possible to a chatelaine. A very beautiful & delicate miniature which likely dates to around
1880.
Bottom left has a Birmingham hallmark which dates it to 1882. Maker mark "HW" is shown as unidentified. I did
discover a London silversmith Henry Wilkinson who used the mark "HW", so that is possible, although unlikely give
the geography.
Bottom right has a Birmingham hallmark for 1891, the makers mark "H. W. A." is another unknown silversmith.
Each bow is 1" or less, excluding the hanging rings.
It's not the first time that I've struggled to establish specific silversmiths despite reading very clear hallmarks.
However, I am an armchair researcher & only research using the power of Google. I guess as time goes on, more
information will be available on the WWW to fill the many gaps.
Good website resources for dating & researching silver are:
www.silvercollection.it
http://www.925-1000.com
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