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 Post subject: What is this stone please? Antique nurses buckle.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:33 am 
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Hello!

My aunt recently came across an old silver nurses buckle she bought at an antique shop about 30 years ago.

We've been trying to figure out what the stone is by googling it's description but haven't had any luck, so I thought I would ask the experts!

I'll post links to pictures of it below:
(Image
Image
Image
Image

There are also a few hallmarks on the silver part (I'll post a close up here).
hallmarks
Image
So far I've identified the lion which means it is silver from England, I believe.
Next to the lion is the 'Chester' mark (3 little trees and a sword), and after that is a swirly H which, after hours of searching, I've found to mean it was made in 1908. Before those there is S.I.L.d which means Stokes & Ireland, I assume that means they are the makers but I'm not sure.

Knowing those details, does anyone have a clue what the stone might be? And how much it might be worth?

Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.


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 Post subject: Re: What is this stone please? Antique nurses buckle.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 12:33 pm 
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moss agate

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 Post subject: Re: What is this stone please? Antique nurses buckle.
PostPosted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 1:07 pm 
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Well done on you hallmark research.
You are correct.
Lion: Sterling
S.I.Ld.:Stokes & Ireland Ltd -William Henry Stokes & Arthur George Ireland*,
Chester was the city where the piece was manufactured.
*Ireland was the last name of one of the owners of the company. It has nothing to do with being Irish. :wink:
Image
1908 Date mark.
Image


The stones appear to be an iron stained moss agate. Marlow and I were typing at the same time

Value, like anything, is a function of defining the market in which it would be sold.

Where did you get the information that it is a nurse's belt buckle? I think that would be a marketable factoid.

PS. It it was my piece, I would very gently rub it with a sunshine cloth to brighten it up a bit.


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