Many of the Silversmiths who settled in Canada in the period when it
was a French colony (1700—1763) were Huguenots
fleeing persecution in their native country. They used marks similar to
those of French makers, the first letters of the maker's name shown in
a shield and over them either a crown or the French fleur-de-lys or else
a star. After 1763, during the period of British rule, the marks of Canadian
makers changed. Only the monogram of the maker remained in the shield which
was now rectangular or semi-circular. These hallmarks are very similar
to the marks of goldsmiths from the Channel Islands and therefore, when
it comes to identification, mistakes can easily be made.
- Goldsmiths in Montreal and Quebec added the word MONTREAL or QUEBEC to their
marks at this time.
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The goldsmiths from Halifax (Nova Scotia) similarly added the monogram
"H" or "HX", or "XNS".
-
The monograms "StJ" or "NB" were used in St. John (New Brunswick).
At the beginning of the 19th century Canadian hallmarks imitated English
ones.Examples even occur of imitations of the English official hallmarks,
for instance the duty mark. In 1908 a
law came into effect—valid until 1946— requiring a fineness of 925/1000
in silver work.
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Canada