Welcome to the historical database of the

Incorporation of Goldsmiths.

To use the system, please click on the search link above to go to the login window and click the register button if you are a first time user. The database is completely free to use, all you have to do is register.

This database brings together much of the known information on goldsmiths of Edinburgh from the twelfth century to the twentieth century. The majority of records date from the sixteenth century up to 1986, with lapsed customers of the office up to 2008.There are over six thousand biographies and numerous illustrations of makers' marks. It will enable the user to match marks on pieces of silver or gold with the maker of that item, and provide biographical information on that maker. You can search by makers' mark, by the name of the maker, and specifically for a keyword appearing in the records. Results are listed in order of relevance.

The database also now includes information on Glasgow goldsmiths from the surviving records of the Glasgow Assay Office (opened in 1819 and closed in 1964).

The database also includes brief biographies of many provincial Scottish gold and silversmiths. In time, images will be added to these biographies.

This database is based on information mostly found in the archives of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths. All records and research have been input to the database by the Archivist of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths, Elspeth Morrison.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The creation of the database would not have been possible were it not for the research and transcription of the records by Henry Steuart Fothringham, whose help on this project has been invaluable. He has been responsible for many of the biographies and has attributed marks to many of the early makers whose details were absent from the surviving records. Our thanks go to the National Museums of Scotland who have allowed us to use photographs taken from the Silver, Made in Scotland exhibition in 2008, and from their archives. Thanks also to the auctioneers Woolley & Wallis who have kindly given us many examples of provincial Scottish marks from recent sales.

HALLMARKING

What is a hallmark? One of the oldest forms of consumer protection, it is not just a legal obligation, it is your guarantee that the item is what it says it is, ie, made from precious metal. It is made up of a number of symbols, from those that indicate the maker or sponsor of the item, to the fine-ness of the metal.

It is relatively easy to work out if your piece of silver was hallmarked here in Edinburgh; look for the castle mark.

On silver this is accompanied by a number of other marks. From 1681 the date letter has been in continuous use in Edinburgh. This tells you when the item was tested and hallmarked.

Other marks include the thistle for silver (from 1759 when it replaced the Assay Master's mark until 1975, when it was replaced in Edinburgh with the lion rampant mark).

From 1784 to 1890 there are additional marks of the reigning monarch which indicate that duty (tax) had been paid on the item. Provincial makers were obliged at this time to send work over a certain weight to Edinburgh to be impressed with the Duty Mark.

For more information on historic hallmarks and date letters, log in to the database and use the help section from the top navigation bar.

Many people after they have dated their piece of silver or precious metal wish to know who the maker was. The database is there to help this task.

DISCLAIMER

The Incorporation of Goldsmiths takes no responsibility for the incorrect identification of marks from the limited information available on this website and database. This information is intended as a guide and is available for research only, not for commercial purposes.