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Reed & Barton is one of the most recognized names in American silver manufacturing, known for its refined designs, craftsmanship, and longstanding history. Founded in 1824 in Taunton, Massachusetts, the company produced a wide array of sterling and silverplate items—from flatware to serving trays to decorative pieces.
But whether you're a collector, reseller, or simply curious about a family heirloom, identifying authentic Reed & Barton silver can be a challenge. That’s where silver marks come into play.
These marks, stamped onto the back or underside of silver items, offer key clues to authenticity, composition, age, and sometimes even the exact pattern. Understanding what they mean can help you determine whether you’re holding a plated piece, genuine sterling, or even a collectible vintage design.
The first step in identification is knowing whether the piece is sterling silver or silverplate. Reed & Barton produced both, but only sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver.
Sterling pieces are typically marked with either the word “STERLING” or “STERLING SILVER”. These marks are clear indicators that the piece is made of solid silver. In some cases, you might also see a numeric designation such as “925”, which is the international hallmark for sterling.
Silverplated items, on the other hand, do not contain solid silver throughout. Instead, they have a thin layer of silver electroplated over a base metal, such as copper or nickel. These are usually marked with terms like “E.P.N.S.” (Electroplated Nickel Silver) or “Reed & Barton 1800”, referencing the model line rather than silver content.
If no mention of sterling is present, the item is almost certainly silverplate.
While some Reed & Barton marks are straightforward, others require a bit of decoding. The company used a variety of hallmarks over the decades, and identifying them correctly can help place a piece within a more accurate production timeframe.
Many pieces include the full name “Reed & Barton” in a block or script font. Accompanying symbols, numbers, or extra lettering can indicate additional details:
Unlike European hallmarks, Reed & Barton’s American system didn’t include assay office marks or maker’s initials. Instead, the company standardized many of its identifiers internally, which means consulting vintage catalogs or collector reference books can help fill in the blanks.
One of the most common types of Reed & Barton silver found in homes and estates is sterling flatware. Patterns like Francis I, Tara, Harrow, and Georgian Rose were produced over decades and often passed down across generations.
Most pieces of sterling flatware will clearly state “STERLING” along with the company name. The presence of tarnish or patina (rather than rust or peeling) is another clue that the item is indeed sterling, as silverplate tends to wear down and reveal the base metal over time.
Knowing the exact pattern can also help determine value, as some discontinued or ornate lines are more collectible than others.
To confidently identify Reed & Barton silver, consider the following approach:
Reed & Barton silver marks are more than just branding—they’re a roadmap to understanding what you own. Whether you're identifying a sterling flatware set or evaluating a silverplated tea service, reading and interpreting these marks is essential for uncovering history, verifying authenticity, and determining value.
With a bit of patience and close inspection, even subtle details can reveal whether your piece is a mid-century collectible, a 19th-century original, or a beautiful but purely decorative silverplated item.
