hallmarks on silver

[marconi]

What is the meaning of these hallmarks on a small item of silver that I have?
JR + an ANCHOR + a LION + C
I have added the + mark

[Narolines]

JR will be the maker's mark - usually, but not always, his/her initials; the anchor is the assay mark for Birmingham, where the silver's purity has been tested; the lion is the quality mark which shows the metal is Sterling silver assayed in England; and the C is the date mark. If you want to find out the year the piece was assayed (and probably, though not necessarily, also made) you'll need to Google for Silver Hallmarks; the date letters go in alphabetical order, but the typeface changes each time the alphabet is exhausted, and since hallmarks have been around since the 14th century they've gone through a lot of alphabets! Best of luck!

[jake-the-peg]

See here for date letters:
http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/date_letters.h tml

C will be 2002, 1977, 1952, 1927 1902 etc. depending on style

[marconi]

Used your info and found it's 1902, S/silver, Birmingham.
Many thanks

[Narolines]

Just as a postscript - I haven't (yet) been able to track down who "JR" was, but I have found a napkin ring by the same maker from 1889. Give me another few days rooting round the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and I might find a bit more info for you. No promises - the Jewellery Quarter in the late 19th/early 20th century was an absolute rabbit-warren of tiny one-man jewellers and silversmiths, and "JR" might turn out to be one of the hundreds - even thousands - who disappeared unrecorded.

[Narolines]

Post-postscript - I've also run across a silver teapot by JR of Birmingham dated 1937, so that suggests a small factory rather than a one-man operation. I'll let you know if I find anything more.