Georgian (?) cream Need hep w Hallmarks Please TIA

Hm.

Someone saying bears haz fat legs?

 

Lol. Muscular legs would be a better word.
Mikey

 

I'll take muscular.

 

I can't speak for the Swiss hallmarking system, but I can say that for British hallmarks, typically if you see hallmarks in a line on a larger piece, they're usually "transposed" hallmarks. During the days of the silver duty, a lot of silversmiths if they were dishonest, would take a small piece such as a salt-spoon and pay the duty and get it hallmarked (the duty was done by weight, not by piece), they would then cut out and "transpose" this hallmark into a larger piece like a chocolate pot. Such work was highly illegal though and if discovered with a piece like this, they would be liable to up to 14 years in prison! ( https://www.925-1000.com/a_Spurious1899.html )

So in general, if you see hallmarks in a line like you would in a spoon on a larger piece (at least British) especially at the bottom of an object like a teapot, be aware that they're likely transposed hallmarks and are not the genuine hallmarks for the piece, you'd expect to see hallmarks in a diamond shape on a larger piece

 

Just for a bit of clarity, British hallmarks in a line on holloware was typical if placed on the sides, but was also done with bottom marks, though scattered was more the norm (four marks placed evenly around the center-point common, but not a required arrangement). The 1899 article cited is only pointing out that it would give reason to "arouse suspicion" if found on supposed Georgian pieces - the marks in any configuration, from a damaged or smaller item, could be inserted into a forgery (and forgeries are still illegal, but usually fines are incurred, though imprisonment up to ten years is possible).

~Cheryl