The Guide that keeps on giving just gave me - a Fabulous Antique Abalone Pearl Fob!

[hbyrne]

Paul that is a wonderful piece, what a delightful little treasure!

I'm curious as to how NZ marks work...we've had a couple of pieces in the shop...but I've not been able to find much online about it. To me (in the UK) the crown is the mark that the Sheffield assay office uses, (a full hallmark having four component stamps), and makers marks are usually their initials (with different styles/fonts for makers with the same initials). So, here in England, if I'm reading the marks on your gorgeous abalone fob, I'd interpret them as Sheffield 9ct gold (gem-set items weren't required to have a full set of hallmarks until 1975). Is there a website/book that you'd recommend?

 

[kiwipaul]

Hi Helen, NZ has never had an official hallmarking system, there has never been a guild system here, so no Goldsmiths' Hall etc.
The criminal codes about describing silver don't apply either, so we don't have to describe non-hallmarked silver as "white metal",
and there are no hallmarking offences beyond consumer protection and fraud laws.

The standard text is "Gold & Silversmithing in Nineteenth & Twentieth Century New Zealand" by Winsome Shepherd.
This identifies most C19th & early C20th silversmiths and jewellers and has a very good appendix with their marks.

Frank Grady had punches with the Sheffield Crown, the Birmingham Anchor, and the Lion Passant,
and used them a bit indiscriminately on his silver and gold productions, sometimes you'll see the anchor & crown together on the same piece.

I think he was bit like the Indian & Chinese makers of the C19th, using punches that looked like English hallmarks to give some additional gravity to his pieces.

There's very little on the web about NZ Colonial through to Arts & Crafts silver and jewellery,
although our National Museum, Te Papa, has some limited displays of important pieces at: www.tepapa.govt.nz

I'm always happy to give you or other P-G members an opinion / appraisal of NZ interest items.

The Holy Grail is pre-European Maori Greenstone (NZ Nephrite Jade) items like Tikis, earrings and Patu (war clubs).
These are covered by our Antiquities Act and can't be exported, they can only be bought and sold in NZ if registered with Te Papa.

However a reasonable amount went back to the UK in Colonial times and they fetch large amounts internationally,
and Te Papa is a reasonably aggressive buyer when trying to repatriate top pieces.

 

[MelT]

Wow! That piece is beautiful. Keep us updated on your treasure hunting...

 

[hbyrne]

Paul, that is very interesting...thank you for taking the time to answer so fully. I suppose the links between the UK and NZ were strong at the time and so jewellers used what punches they could. We've got a bracelet in the shop at the moment that I could do with your help on...would it be ok to send you some pics of the markings? I've seen quite a few antique NZ jade brooches of the souvenir type over the years, but no war clubs!

Thank you again...it's great to learn

 

[kiwipaul]

Hi Helen, sure send me a pic of the item and markings, I'll tell you whatever I can.

 

[GemGeek]

It's nice to have an expert on NZ antique jewelry here on Pearl Guide.