Hello All, I am looking for some direction in getting information about a piece of "silverware" that has been passed down from my Bradford ancestors who emigrated to Canada between 1857 and 1871. So far I have figured out that it probably isn't silver because there is no lion hallmark, which indicates British silver. Nor is there any other silver mark. My ancestors were not rich people so it is probably a very ordinary silverplated spoon. One of the marks looks like it could be a boar, Bradford's symbol. Another looks like it could be a sheaf of wheat. I have looked for the Hallmarks in reference books but have not found them. I note from the Genuki webpage on Bradford and the Pigots and Baines directories that there were no silversmiths in Bradford in those years (1822, 1829 and 1834). There were however, Cutlers, Tinsmiths and Whitesmiths. My question is this. Is anyone from the list, aware of an antique and collectible dealer in the Bradford area, to whom I could send an image? Perhaps they would be able to tell me if the spoon was locally made. I have consulted antique dealers here and no one recognizes the marks. I have tried Google but am not getting anywhere. While a simple spoon may seem insignificant, it may tell me something about my ancestors. I like to look beyond the basics; names, dates, occupations etc. Cheers and thanks, Stephanie Lever (researching Halliday, Sutcliffe and Hemingway)

From: "Stephanie Lever" <salever1@rogers.com> > I am looking for some direction in getting information about a piece > of "silverware" that has been passed down from my Bradford ancestors > who emigrated to Canada between 1857 and 1871. So far I have figured > out that it probably isn't silver because there is no lion hallmark, > which indicates British silver. Nor is there any other silver mark. > My ancestors were not rich people so it is probably a very ordinary > silverplated spoon. One of the marks looks like it could be a boar, > Bradford's symbol. Another looks like it could be a sheaf of wheat. I > have looked for the Hallmarks in reference books but have not found > them. > > I note from the Genuki webpage on Bradford and the Pigots and Baines > directories that there were no silversmiths in Bradford in those years > (1822, 1829 and 1834). There were however, Cutlers, Tinsmiths and > Whitesmiths. > > My question is this. Is anyone from the list, aware of an antique and > collectible dealer in the Bradford area, to whom I could send an > image? Perhaps they would be able to tell me if the spoon was locally > made. I have consulted antique dealers here and no one recognizes the > marks. I have tried Google but am not getting anywhere. > > While a simple spoon may seem insignificant, it may tell me something > about my ancestors. I like to look beyond the basics; names, dates, > occupations etc. > > Cheers and thanks, > Stephanie Lever > (researching Halliday, Sutcliffe and Hemingway)> Try the famous Bradford jewellers, Fattorini's, who were founded in 1827 (so they ought to be in the trade directories you consulted). They were in Bradford for well over 100 years and, though I don't think they have a shop there now, they still have a number of branches. Their website is... http://www.fattorini.co.uk/pages/fattorini_home.asp -- Roy Stockdill Professional genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE