At predetermined intervals, hallmarks undergo changes that help to identify the year of testing. The date letter runs from “A” to “Z” and at each “restart” the font and case changes. Pay particular attention to these two details. The shape of the background shield also changes. I’m speaking of the borders that surround the hallmark. You’ll find squares, rectangles, cut-corners, and rectangles with wavy bottom and/or top sides among several other shapes. Pay particular attention to the shape of the shield when determining the date.
You may find a bagpipe with metal that appears to be silver but has no hallmarks. There are many reasons why this might have occurred. A simple test that you can perform at home or a visit to your local jeweler will reveal the silver content.
Designs are integral to the silver, the most common being a thistle design. You will also find patterns reflecting various other Celtic and non-Celtic themes. These designs are created using a range of methods, including hand-chasing, machine or hand engraving, repousse, and creating the design in a mold that is used to cast the silver. Each method delivers a unique end-product and each method has its own appeal.
- Hand-chased silver – This is accomplished by impressing set designs into the silver and then otherwise pushing the material aside with small blunt tools (awls) being tapped by a hammer. The end result can be stunning and reflects the true skill and artistry of the silversmith.
- Repousse is done by pushing the silver from the opposite side as what is seen. Designs are generally not as detailed as with the previous two methods.
- Machine or Hand Engraving – This method removes material leaving a design in relief. Engraving by hand is generally more refined than machine engraving.
- Cast silver – A relief mold is used to create the design silver. Molten silver is poured onto the mold. Once the silver has cooled and is released from the mold the design is detailed by hand.
Every so often we encounter a bagpipe will silver fittings but no hallmarks. There are a few possibilities. It is possible that the customer did not want to wait for the silver to be tested. Perhaps it was a step and an expense that either the customer or maker wanted to avoid. It’s also possible that the silver is actually silver-plate, where a base metal is fused between two layers of silver. Another possibility is that it is a base metal that has been electroplated with silver. This coating of silver is extremely thin and any engraving would have been done to the base metal prior to electroplating. The last possibility is that it may not be silver at all. In the image below, we have a ferrule on the left that is thought to be silver-plate, the ferrule in the middle that is hallmarked, and the ferrule on the right is nickel with engraving. These last designs are stamped into the nickel as it is too hard to allow for traditional hand chasing.
