Silvermaker Reed and Barton was founded in 1824 in the United States. Today the company sells silver, crystal and china. For each year of silver production from 1928-1957, Reed and Barton stamped or engraved a different symbol, or hallmark, on their silver items, in addition to the words “Reed & Barton.” You can identify Reed and Barton silver and figure out when it was made by consulting these hallmarks.
Locate the hallmarks on your silver. If your silver pieces are very small, use a magnifying glass to see the marks clearly. Look for the words “Reed & Barton” or an R inside a shield shape with the images of birds on either side of it. All Reed and Barton silver from before 1928 and after 1957 carries one of these marks.
Look for additional marks near the words or R. Between 1928 and 1957, Reed and Barton also marked each piece with a symbol to represent the year of manufacture. The Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks, and Makers’ Marks lists all of these symbols with the corresponding year of use at http://www.925-1000.com/RB_Date_Code.html.
Make a list of each silver piece and its identifying mark. This list can be useful in having your silver appraised or insured.
Tip
If your silver is damaged, a silver expert at an antique shop or auction house may be able to identify it for you.
References
Tips
- If your silver is damaged, a silver expert at an antique shop or auction house may be able to identify it for you.
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