plate mark

plural plate marks

1. A legal emblem stamped into articles made from precious metals such as gold and silver to indicate the value of the metal.

   Last autumn a gentleman who is well acquainted with plate marks saw this plate, and informed the owner that it was spurious.

   1883, Hall marks on gold and silver plate

   2 more examples

   In Scotland the marks on silver of 11 oz. 2 dwts. are precisely the same as those on gold of 22 carats standard; and so it was, also, in England until the 7 & 8 Vict. c. 22, by s. 15 of which the gold plate mark was altered.

   1854, Hugh Tilsley, A Treatise on the Stamp Laws, in Great Britain and Ireland

   The coat of arms, trademark, and Haus- and Hofmarken when used to identify property owned by a person, family, or institution; the personal device or seal employed to "sign" or notarize contracts and other legal documents; the marks of stonemasons, which indicated the identity of theproducer so that he could be paid for the pieces he fashioned; and the goldsmith's plate mark, which identified the maker and guaranteed the quality of the gold used — all these were ways of registering the person in law and commerce within the culture out of which Du:rer emerged.

   1996, Joseph Leo Koerner, The Moment of Self-Portraiture in German Renaissance Art, →ISBN, page 203

2. A mark made on paper by the edge of an intaglio plate during printing.

   Many intaglio prints have a plate mark a distance away from the printed image.

   2015, David Cycleback, Identifying Antique Commercial Printing Processes, And the Basics of Authenticating Antique and Art Prints, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   All four beveled edges of the plate should correspond with the embossed plate mark on the back of the print.

   1976, Ruth Leaf, Etching, Engraving, and Other Intaglio Printmaking Techniques, →ISBN

   Note both that the owner of the original painting is named on the print – John Conduit was married to Newton's niece – and that the plate mark, showing where the metal has been pressed onto the paper, is clearly visible.

   2011, Simon Gunn, Lucy Faire, Research Methods for History, →ISBN, page 32