In order to guarantee the purity of silver, hallmarking was introduced in 1600’s .
Silver: a precious metal that does not perish.
Silver cannot be beaten on its lustre because it reflects nearly all light like a mirror, although because of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere it does tarnish and needs to be polished regularly to retain its good looks. With love and some care it will last forever.
Silver and silverware have always been looked upon as a symbol of wealth and status. The traditional gift to a newborn of a silver spoon is the origin of the well-known phrase ‘Born with a silver spoon in his mouth’. It is durable, beautiful and lustrous therefore perfect as an heirloom. ‘Selling off the family silver’ was the last resort for a poor aristocrat who would rather freeze in a draughty house than part with his much-loved family silver.
The tradition of Irish silver dates back to the 13th century when goldsmiths were first practicing in Dublin. Silver was a favourite for a long time for cups and goblets because people believed that precious metals were more healthy to use than other metals or wood and in fact silver has anti-bacterial properties hence its wide use for cutlery.
In order to guarantee the purity of silver, hallmarking was introduced in 1605 and is the oldest form of consumer protection.
The Hallmark
All items of gold, silver and platinum are subject to hallmarking in Ireland. This is an unbroken tradition in Ireland since 1637. Irish hallmarks provide the final consumer with a unique guarantee of the precious metal content that lasts the lifetime of the product.
You can be confident that your ORLA piece is solid silver.
There are four hallmarks on your ORLA Silver Butter Dish, here is what they mean:
The Maker’s Mark
Originally it was used to identify the silversmith or goldsmith responsible for making the item.
The mark on your ORLA Silver Butter Dish consists of the initials of the founder of ORLA - OD.
The Assay Office Mark
This identifies the Assay Office which tested and marked the piece. There is only one Assay Office in Ireland located in Dublin Castle. This mark is symbolized by the Hibernia Hallmark. Hibernia is the Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland. Hibernia as a national personification representing Ireland appeared in cartoon and drawings, especially in the nineteenth century.
The Date Letter
This indicates the year in which the item was hallmarked. Each year is allocated a letter of the alphabet. The letter changes annually and no two years will have the same letter in the same shaped shield.
Silver Purity Marks
Metal and fineness (purity) marks tell you the precious metal content, expressed in parts per thousand. This is the precious metal content of your ORLA Silver Butter Dish.
Today we have only a few silversmiths left in Ireland and we at ORLA feel it is important to promote and preserve the remaining companies and this tradition.
Elegant, simple and timeless, we hope your ORLA piece will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
Set the table with your ORLA silver butter dish
Light long candlesticks to enhance the romance
Choose a simple flower for your ORLA copper bud vase
Sit back, relax and create memories
Copper in Ireland
Copper is a natural metal extracted from copper ore.
The Irish Bronze Age dated from approximately 2500 BC to 500BC. That period in Ireland was characterised by the wealth of new, innovative and exciting metalworking techniques. Copper and gold were amongst the earliest metals used. Bronze, a mixture of tin and copper, gradually became a fashionable choice for metalworkers because it was highly durable giving the era its name. You may be familiar with the famous Torc from the middle to late Bronze Age in Ireland which was a status symbol. Small torcs were sometimes worn by noble children, and they were nearly always passed down through generations.
The Orla copper bud vase references this history together with the agricultural nature of Irish society in its milk bottle form. The simplicity of the design lets the lustre of the copper shine through and it will be perfect for displaying in-season buds.
Copper is unusual because it absorbs different wavelengths of blue light and explains its characteristic colour. Copper finishes to a high shine but oxidises very quickly. This is why your Orla copper bud vase is coated with a clear lacquer to preserve its finish.