After the invention of the camera in the mid 19th century, portrait photographs became highly fashionable, for those who could afford them as they were expensive items. The silversmiths of the day responded by producing silver frames suitable for displaying family photographs for the well to do.

During the 80 years between 1860 to 1940 dozens of silversmiths produced hundreds of designs, some were of better quality than others. The cheapest were made from the thinnest silver legally allowed a hallmark, 003 gauge which is still the same today, and were mounted on cardboard backs covered by material, usually velvet. The best were made from a thicker gauge silver, 006 double the thickness and with a higher silver content too, Britannia 958 rather than Sterling 925, and mounted on stronger wooden backs. These often survive in a fair condition today, or at least can be renovated. The silver on the others is usually polished through with pieces missing and with backs in a poor condition too as silver polish and velvet covered cardboard do not mix well over time.

The same criteria applies today, many manufacturers continue to exploit customers in exactly the same way and there are always plenty to be found on Ebay! Look out for: No mention of the hallmarks except: fully hallmarked! its bound to be basic sterling, no close up photos of the hallmarks, no close up photos of any kind, no photos of the back, some now have wooden backs with thinnest gauge silver on the front. Beware: As with anything made: QUALITY VARIES.

The 2nd World War saw the end of the heyday for silver frames. Afterwards machine milled/engine turned items became the order of the day.

Each era has its' followers, some collect only Victorian, while others rigidly only Art Nouveau or Deco. I think a collection looks best with an eclectic mix from all periods.

Since January 1999, in order to comply with European law, the fineness of all UK hallmarked items must be expressed millessimally (that is in parts per thousand). 800, 925, 958, 999.  After 700 years of hallmarking the European Commission wanted to scrap our system and replace it with a European Union standard self-certification stamp.  It was only in 2003 that member states finally voted by 9-6 that the five European countries that have statutory hallmarking could retain their traditional hallmarks.  So our ancient system is safe.

What is Britannia Silver?  Judging by the emails I get asking about Britannia hallmarks, it seems not to be generally known that there are higher qualities of silver, other than Sterling.

In 1238 the hallmarking system began in London under the reign of Henry III, when he ordered that all silver should be of the Sterling standard ie 925 parts per 1000 pure.

In 1697 the Sterling (lion) hallmark was abolished and replaced by the figure of Britannia, when the minimum fineness of silver was raised from 925 (Sterling) to 958 (Britannia). This was introduced to stop silversmiths from melting coins of the realm for their raw material, a practice common at the time due to the acute shortage and high price of silver.

In 1720 the lower Sterling mark was restored, but the higher Britannia mark still remains today.  Only the London assay office could use the Britannia mark, prior to 1975.

In 1999 EEC law decided to make identification easier for all when it decreed, “the fineness of all UK hallmarked articles must be expressed millesimally (that is numerically in parts per thousand), although traditional marks, such as the Sterling lion and the figure of Britannia, may continue to be struck on a voluntary basis, alongside millessimal marks”

                                New Numerical Marks introduced on January 1st 1999

                                999       The new highest purity                99.9% pure silver

                                958       The old Britannia purity               95.8% pure silver

                                925       The old Sterling purity                 92.5% pure silver

                                800       The new lowest purity                 80.0% pure silver

  For more information click on the following website: www.britishhallmarkingcouncil.gov.uk

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