What are English pewter marks?

English pewter marks were identification symbols used to indicate which craftsman worked on a particular piece. The maker's name or initials were often incorporated into the design. In addition, pewter marks sometimes included other information, such as the quality of the piece or membership to a guild.

Sometimes marks were recorded, so the specific artisan was able to be determined years later. Not all pewter pieces were marked. Though early pewter marks were often intricate, by the 1800s they were typically the stamped names of the craftsmen. A date along with the mark does not name the year the item was made. Rather, it indicates when the pewter maker set up shop.