John Pearson Marks
Pieces bearing the full signature often also have a pattern number and date.
The florid, as opposed to the straight, JP initials seem, to my mind, more closely to resemble the manuscript John Pearson signature. The examples I have seen are all early (pre-1895).
The 'straight' initials often appear with a date and sometimes with a pattern number. This strongly suggests it is Pearson's mark (the straight initials also appear together with the JP stamp). I have not the mark on an example dated example earlier than 1899.
A number of pieces in copper and brass have a lozenge shaped stamp encircled with dots enclosing the initials JP. It has sometimes been stated that this is the mark of another copper worker called Joseph Pengelly. There does not seem to be any evidence of this.
In 1894, according to Harry Lyons, Pearson registered the JP stamp at Goldsmith's Hall for silver. This mark - for silver - is identical to that found on copper and brass pieces which makes it exceedingly likely that it is the mark of John Pearson.
The identical stamp appears - on copper - together with the straight initials (confirming it is a Pearson mark). The stamp also appears, with the full signature, on at least two silver chargers dated 1894. Interestingly I have not seen any copper pieces bearing the JP stamp which are dated before 1894 which also suggests that Pearson began to use the mark for silver and copper after 1894.
I have seen this mark once only - on an early brass charger dated 1888 (the first year of the Guild of Handicraft).