Sheffield Assay Office, responsible for stamping precious metal objects to certify their value, has shared images of its most fascinating items ahead of its 250th anniversary.
Since hallmarking its first object on September 20, 1773, the office has been responsible for assuring the quality of objects containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
Before receipts and warranty guarantees, this was the first way to give consumers protection. Now, it is one of only four remaining assay offices in the country.
In its early days, most of Sheffield Assay Office's business was local, but it now attracts customers from all over the world, still surveying millions of jewellery items each year which are left bearing the Sheffield “town” mark.
The anniversary celebration events in September include a tour of the town hall on the 8th, display openings at museums across the city including Millenium Gallery on the 9th, and a metalwork tour of the Cathedral on the 17th with a Curator of the Assay Office and a Heritage Officer.
5. Golden cup
The cup was designed for the Assay Office's 200th anniversary, in 1973. It was designed by Geoffrey Alsop and made by Jack Spencer. | SAO
6. Platinum and coronation cufflinks
The pair on the left, marked in 1985, are made of platinum. On the right, you can see the coronation hallmark on an older cufflink made by William Yates. | SAO
7. The Assay Office opens
Sheffield Assay Office's first location was on Fargate, from 1795 to 1881. | SAO
8. The Assay Office moves
It's second location was on Leopold Street, from 19881 to 1985. | SAO