a hallmark of time

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This was presented to Sheffield Assay Office on 20th September 2023 at the 250th Anniversary Dinner in the Cutlers Hall. 

A display cabinet was created from a large Perspex cylinder topped with an oak collar and built to rest on an oak base with two adjustable spotlights. Colour change LED's cast a warm glow on the piece from below through the frosted base. All the support pillars were handcrafted from stainless steel.

The tapered spiral design symbolizes the small number of services offered by the Assay offices in 1773 when the Assay offices were founded. As time has elapsed these services and variety of hallmarks available have grown. The ceramic balls travelling down the sterling silver channel depict the passage of time from 1773 to 2023.

The detailed hallmarks are listed below:

1773 The Act of May 1773 established Assay Offices in both Birmingham and Sheffield.  

- A special handmade crown including set stones and fleur-de-lys with royal purple velvet trimmed by ermine cap for Sheffield and a silver cast anchor with inset stone and chain representing their initial hallmarks.

1824 Birmingham empowered to hallmark gold. 

- Represented by handmade cast silver gold plated ingot.

1855 Gold Wedding Ring Act required all wedding rings to be hallmarked.

- Represented by a handmade gold plated silver wedding ring.

1904 Sheffield allowed to hallmark gold and they changed their town mark to the rose. 

- Depicted by large central Sheffield rose handcrafted in silver with red and green colouring and central set Synthetic Ruby. Later changed to  white and green colouring.

1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation commemorative hallmark. 

- Depicted by an enlarged version of the mark.

1975 Platinum became a hallmarkable metal. 

- Depicted by handmade silver orb and cross.

1975 British Government ratified the international Convention on Hallmarking.

- Depicted by handmade scales balanced by a small anchor and rose held in the pans.

2009 Palladium became a hallmarkable metal. 

- Depicted by an enlarged version of the mark.

2023 King Charles III Coronation commemorative hallmark. 

- Depicted by an enlarged version of the mark.

2023 250th Anniversary Commemorative mark. 

- Depicted by an enlarged version of the mark.

The mechanism for raising small ceramic balls to the top of the piece consisted of an Archimedes screw powered by a hidden motor in the base. The screw was handcrafted together with all the other supports in stainless steel.

Finally, it was mounted on an oak base with commemorative silver plaque.

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