JAMES DIXON

AN ATTEMPT TO DATE BRITANNIA METAL (PEWTER) TRADE MARKS
  created by Giorgio B. owner of
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From centuries British silver is protected by the stamping of symbols and letters identifying the maker, the Assay Office and the date in which the quality of the silver piece was verified. Thanks to the "date letter" any piece of British sterling silver can be exactly dated.
Old Sheffield Plate and Electroplated silver are not subject to this practice and the regulation issued by the authorities had the main objective of preventing possible frauds by unscrupulous sellers of plated ware. The best-known initiative is the prohibition (effective from c. 1896: Elkington was forced to change its mark in 1898) of stamping plated wares with the "crown", to avoid misunderstanding with the symbol identifying the Sheffield Assay Office.
The absence of an official dating system makes it difficult to date silver plated wares. An approximate date can be determined by examining:
- the style of the object
- the presence or absence of the crown (before or after c. 1896)
- the date of registration of the pattern at the Patent Office
- the presence of a dated dedication
- the date of the event (example: King/Queen Coronation or Jubilee commemorative spoons)
- "Ltd" or "Ld" on the mark denotes a date after 1861 (but in most cases not before 1890)
- a registered number (Rd followed by a number) denotes a date after 1883
- "England" denotes a date after 1891 (mandatory for export in the USA - McKinley Tariff Act of 1890-)
- "Made in England" denotes a 20th century date (mandatory after 1921 for export in the USA)
The largest manufacturers introduced, on a voluntary basis, a dating system of their silver plate based on series of letters of various style contained into shields or geometric figures. The first was Elkington (1841), followed by Walker & Hall (1884) and Mappin & Webb (but other less known makers tried to do something similar).
For Dixon isn't possible an exact dating as the firm never adopted a system of dates on its silverplate marks.
The approximate dates reported in this page referring to the trade marks used by Dixon in Britannia metal (pewter) wares are largely based on the study made by Jack L. Scott in his book Pewter Wares from Sheffield.




Dixon: undocumented trade mark 1804-c.1810 1804-c.1810
James Dixon, active at 42 Silver Street, Sheffield (undocumented trade mark)
Dixon & Smith partnership: c.1811-1822 c.1811-1822
The partnership of James Dixon & Thomas Smith lasted from 1811 until the end of 1822
Dixon & Son partnership: 1823-1829
1823-1829
In 1823 William Frederick Dixon, eldest son of James Dixon, began his partnership in the family business. The firm was active in the new facilities in Cornish Place. When accompanied by the pattern number (three or four digits) the mark can be dated to 1828/1829
Dixon & Son partnership: 1823-1829
Dixon: voluntary escucheon mark applied to Imperial standard measures 1824-1830 1824-1830
Imperial standard was introduced in 1824. This voluntary escucheon mark bearing King George IV initials (d.1830) was applied to Imperial standard measures prior to the compulsory introduction of verification marks (1835).
Dixon: basic mark adopted in 1830 1830-1834
This is the basic mark adopted in 1830
Dixon: basic mark adopted in 1830
Dixon: mark used in commemorative spoons 1830-1834
1830-1834
Rare mark used in commemorative spoons celebrating the Reign of William IV. The "trumpet and banner" symbol was abandoned until 1879


Dixon: mark adopted in 1835 when a second son, James Willis Dixon, entered in the partnership - 1835-1841 1835-1841
This mark was adopted in 1835 when a second son, James Willis Dixon, entered in the partnership
Dixon: mark adopted in 1835 when a second son, James Willis Dixon, entered in the partnership - 1835-1841
Dixon: mark omitting 'JAMES' for reasons of space on small items - 1835-1841 1835-1841
A mark omitting "JAMES" for reasons of space on small items
Dixon: Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes) - 1835-c.1841 1835-c.1841
Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes)
Dixon: Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes) - 1835-c.1841 1835-c.1841
Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes)
Dixon: Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes) - c.1842-c.1851 c.1842-c.1851
Intaglio mark used on smaller items (flasks, boxes)
Dixon: Mark used on earthenware lidded jugs and other special designs - 1842 1842
Mark used on earthenware lidded jugs and other special designs registered under the Design Registration Act between 1842 and 1846
Dixon: Basic mark c.1842-c.1851 c.1842-c.1851
Basic mark used in this period. In 1842 James Dixon retired from the business. The firm was assumed by James Willis Dixon and a third son, Henry Issac Dixon, and a son-on-law, William Fawcett, became full partners.
Dixon: Basic mark c.1842-c.1851
Dixon: Mark used on highest workmanship level items c.1842-c.1851
c.1842-c.1851
Mark used on highest workmanship level items
Dixon: Mark used on highest workmanship level items c.1842-c.1851
Dixon: Special intaglio mark c.1842-c.1850
c.1842-c.1850
Special intaglio mark used on items with registered design
Dixon: Special intaglio mark c.1842-c.1850


Dixon: Small mark used on lids of earthenware jugs - c.1841-c.1851 c.1841-c.1851
Small mark used on lids of earthenware jugs
Dixon: Basic mark used in this period - c.1851-1870 c.1851-1870
Basic mark used in this period. Dixon was the very last major firm to add the word SHEFFIELD to its mark
Dixon: Basic mark used in this period - c.1851-1870
Dixon: Mark used on flasks - c.1851-1870 c.1851-1870
Mark used on flasks
Dixon: Mark used on glass bottomed tankards - c.1860-1879 c.1860-1879
Mark used on glass bottomed tankards
Dixon: Mark used on glass bottomed tankards - c.1860-1879
Dixon: Basic mark used in this period - 1879-1927
1879-1927
Basic mark used in this period. The "trumpet and banner" was registered in 1879 and added to the mark to avoid confusion with those of two Sheffield competitors having the same initials, Joseph Deakin & Sons and James Deakin & Sons. The mark in a semi-circle with Sheffield beneath was introduced in 1921. The mark JD&S was used from c. 1920
Dixon: mark used in this period - 1879-1927 Dixon: Basic mark used in this period - 1879-1927 Dixon: mark used from 1921 Dixon: mark used from c. 1920 Dixon: mark used from c. 1920
Dixon: Mark used on patented self pouring teapots - 1886-c.1895
1886-c.1895
Mark used on patented self pouring teapots made for J.J. Royle
Dixon: Mark used on patented self pouring teapots - 1886-c.1895
Dixon: Mark used with the introduction of the trade mark Cornish Pewter - from 1927
from 1927
Mark used with the introduction of the trade mark Cornish Pewter
Dixon: Mark used with the introduction of the trade mark Cornish Pewter - from 1927
Dixon: Mark used when the firm became a Limited Liability Company - from 1929
from 1929
Mark used when the firm became a Limited Liability Company
Dixon: Mark used when the firm became a Limited Liability Company - from 1929





BRITISH SILVER MAKERS: MARKS, HISTORY AND INFORMATION
Adie & Lovekin markAdie & Lovekin John Charle Angell & George Angell markAngell Family Asprey & Co markAsprey & Co Atkin Brothers markAtkin Brothers Barker Brothers markBarker Brothers E. Barnard & Sons markE.Barnard & Sons Hester Bateman markBateman Family Maurice Baum markM. Baum Gerald Benney markG. Benney Barnabus Blackburn markB.Blackburn Boardman, Glossop & Co Ltd markBoardman,Glossop & Co Matthew Boulton markM.Boulton Charles Boyton & Son markC.Boyton & Son Thomas Bradbury & Sons markT.Bradbury & Sons Alfred Browett trade markA.Browett Chawner & Co markChawner & Co Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co markA.Clark Manufacturing Co G.R. Collis & Co markG.R.Collis & Co Augustin Courtauld markCourtauld Family Daniel & Arter markDaniel & Arter go to James Deakin & Sons pageJ.Deakin & Sons Stuart Devlin markS.Devlin Deykin & Sons markDeykin & Sons James Dixon & Sons markJ.Dixon & Sons Dobson & Sons markDobson & Sons William Eley I and William Fearn markEley family Elkington hallmarkElkington & Co John Emes markEmes family Fattorini & Sons markFattorini & Sons Charles Thomas Fox and George Fox markFox family Garrard & Co Ltd markGarrard & Co Samuel Godbehere markS.Godbehere Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co markGoldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Henry Griffith & Sons markH.Griffith & Sons John Grinsell & Sons markJ.Grinsell & Sons Hamilton & Inches markHamilton & Inches Hancock & Co markC.F.Hancock Harrison Brothers & Howson markHarrison Br. & Howson Hawksworth, Eyre & Co Ltd markHawksworth Eyre & Co Hayne & Cater markHayne & Cater Hennell family markHennell family Holland Aldwinckle & Slater markHolland Aldwinckle & Slater Horton & Allday markHorton & Allday Hukin & Heath Ltd markHukin & Heath William Hutton & Sons Ltd markW.Hutton & Sons George Jamieson markG.Jamieson Lambert & Co trade markLambert & Co Paul De Lamerie markP.deLamerie Latham & Morton markLatham & Morton Levi & Salaman markLevi & Salaman Lister & Sons markLister & Sons Charles Maas markC.Maas & Co Mappin & Webb markMappin & Webb Martin Hall & Co markMartin Hall & Co R.F. Mosley markR.F.Mosley Henry George Murphy markH.G.Murphy Pairpoint Brothers markPairpoint Brothers H.H. Plante markH.H.Plante Thomas Prime & Son markT.Prime & Son Robert Pringle & Sons markR.Pringle & Sons Omar Ramsden markO. Ramsden Reid & Sons markReid & Sons Richards & Brown markRichards & Brown Roberts & Belk markRoberts & Belk John Round & Son Ltd markJ.Round & Son Sampson Mordan & Co Ltd markSampson Mordan & Co Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd Ltd markA.B.Savory & Sons Sibray, Hall & Co markSibray, Hall & Co W & G Sissons markW & G Sissons Smily family markSmily Family Spurrier trade markSpurrier Paul Storr markP.Storr Tessiers Ltd trade markTessiers Ltd F.B. Thomas & Co markF.B.Thomas & Co George Unite & Sons markG.Unite & Sons C.J. Vander Ltd markC.J.Vander Wakely & Wheeler markWakely & Wheeler Walker & Hall markWalker & Hall D & J Wellby Ltd markD&J Wellby Ltd West & Son markWest & Son Henry Wilkison & Co markH.Wilkinson & Co Josiah Williams & Co markJ.Williams & Co Horace Woodward & Co Ltd markH.Woodward & Co
BRITISH SILVERSMITHS - ILLUSTRATED LISTING OF MAKER'S AND SPONSOR'S MARKS
MARKS' IMAGES:    A&/AC    AD/AK    AL/AZ    B&/BB    BC/BO    BP/BZ    C&/CA    CB/CC    CD/CF    CG/CL    CM/CS    CT/CZ    D&/DB    DC/DL    DM/DZ    E&/EA    EB/ED    EE/EH    EI/EO    EP/EZ    F&/FD    FE/FJ    FK/FZ    G&/GB    GC/GG    GH/GL    GM/GR    GS/GZ    H&/H&    HA/HB    HC/HE    HF/HL    HM/HU    HV/HZ    I&/IG    IH/IL    IM/IZ    J&/JA    JB/JC    JD/JG    JH/JK    JL/JQ    JR/JR    JS/JS    JT/JZ    KA/KZ    L&/LB    LC/LZ    M&/MB    MC/MI    MJ/MZ    N&/NZ    OA/OZ    P&/PK    PL/PZ    QA/QZ    R&/RB    RC/RG    RH/RK    RL/RQ    RR/RZ    S&/SB    SC/SI    SJ/SR    SS/SZ    T&/TC    TD/TG    TH/TN    TO/TS    TT/TZ    UA/UZ    V&/VZ    W&/WA    WB/WB    WC/WC    WD/WE    WF/WG    WH/WL    WM/WM    WN/WR    WS/WS    WT/XZ    YA/YZ    ZA/ZZ   
BRITISH TOWN MARKS AND DATE LETTERS

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