Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/314

238 ON THE ASSAY MARKS ON GOLD AND SILVER PLATE. Frencli given in the Statutes at Large, the words used are " the Leopard's head," as if it was some long known and recognised sjnnbol ; but in the original, the words are " une Teste de Leopart," and from the use of the article " ime ' I am inclined to infer that it was a new mark, invented and established for that express purpose. Some confusion and error seems to have existed with regard to the term " LeoparcTs head," it being, in fact, a Lion's head. The error has arisen from the fact not being known or understood, that in the heraldic language of old French (the language of our early statutes), the term " Leopart " means a Lion passant gardant. The arms of England from the time of Henry IIL have been three lions passant gardant, and in the old French heraldic works are described as three " Leoparts, " or Lions Leopardies. The leopard's head therefore is properly the head of a Lion passant gardant, which, in fact, is a lion's front face, as is this mark, and it was most probably taken from the arms of the sovereign, and the crown added as indicative of its being the King's mark. All the early examples of this mark show a fine bold lion's face, with mane and beard, having on the head, a ducal crown. In the reign of George IIL, however, the size of the head was diminished; and about the year 1823, from the fact, as I am informed, that in some document the simple "Leopard's head" was found mentioned, without being followed by the word crowned, and the parties employed, probably not being aware of the circumstances above related, the form of the stamj) was altogether changed when the new punches were engraved ; the hon's head was deprived of his crown, and shorn of his mane and beard ; and it has ever since then presented an object far more resembhng the head of a cat than the fine bold lion of former days ; and I must confess that I should like to see the King's mark restored to its pristine form. THE worker's or MAKER's MARK. The next that we have to consider in the chronological series, is the Maker's Mark, which was first instituted in England by statute in 1363, which orders that every master goldsmith should have a mark of his own, known to those who should 1)0 appointed by the King to survey the works, which marks, for which the goldsmiths should answer, should