Members' Window # 36

Giorgio Busetto presents: An ancient complement for ladies hair dressing The silver travelling spirit burner is a box with hinged lid complete with brass fitted interior used to heat ladies hair curling irons..... click here

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Debbie Cracovia writes:
.. I have another one for you. What is this? I picked it up in a lot of other sterling items and I have no idea what it is or where it is from. Hoping you can help.
Again I have to say I love being a member of this site. I find the articles informative and really enjoy everything about it.
Best regards,
Debbi Cracovia

Adrian Fitch writes:
.. See the attached JPG, can you tell me anything about this mark?
My regards,
Adrian Fitch

Lee Bowden writes:
.. I have a Russian silver piece that I would like to learn more about. It appears to me the hallmark is 'PG' in cyrillic. I would appreciate if you could tell me more or where to look to find information about this locket, or silversmith.
I can't read Russian so even a translation of the back would be nice.
I have thought about selling this locket, but I really like it and would like to know more first.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lee Bowden

This piece was made by Grigoriì Pankratbev, St. Petersburg, 1874-1908.
I don't know Russian language, but I trust in member's help for translation of Russian inscription.
Giorgio Busetto

Nikica Vuletic writes:
.. By using all Internet available resources (including ASCAS) I was not able to date one Gorham sterling plate that bears IYQ code. This is in accordance with the fact that production for special customers (in this case Grogan retailer) bears two or three letter codes (ZZ or ZZZ). But there is no table to determine exact period.
Can you help me with this?
Best regards.
Nikica

Joseph Bozzino writes:
.. I would appreciate any comments on the item illustrated. It was obtained in Spain and has been repaired. The mast is 22cm in height, the overall length is 27cm and the width is 10cm.
There is a single mark, consisting of DK with 13 above it. There are two holes on the deck, with wear marks suggesting two circular bases.
Yours sincerely,
Joseph Bozzino.

Renee' Bradley writes:
.. Could you please help me identify these marks?
Thank you,
Renee' Bradley

Ian Cook writes:
.. I acquired the attached piece and am hoping that you may be able to help me with a question. The piece is marked NICKEL SILVER, am I to assume that it is solid nickel silver and not plated. I have no idea of the maker, none of my documentation lists this company.
I really hope you can help.
I remain hopeful.
Best regards from England,
Ian Cook

Pierre Debailly writes:
.. this is the photo of an Italian water pitcher. I'd like to know the age of this piece and the name of the maker.
The mark is a seated lion over an 'F' (Florence) and the maker's mark is PB or PH.

The 'lion' mark was in use in Florence, Granducato di Toscana from 1832 to 1872, but the maker PB or PH isn't cited in my reference books. I hope that ASCAS members may have the answer to your question.
Giorgio Busetto.

Fredric Sinfield writes:
.. Here is a little mystery about this piece that maybe of interest.
It is an oval vinaigrette that weighs 30grams. The piercing of the hinged grill is quite different to that seen on English vinagrettes as it was probably made within the Austro-Hungarian Empire in second half of the 19th century.
There are no assay marks but in the centre of the base are the punched initials 'BYL L', what these represent is unknown but appear to be unrelated to the other initials on the underside of the base.
Does any member recognize the punched initials?
Regards,
Fred.

Katherine O'Regan writes:
.. I was wondering if you could help me please. I have what I think is a Victorian Coffee service - hot water jug, coffee pot and milk jug - which was brought to New Zealand by my grandmother from England in 1912. It is in rather a poor state as it has had the silver cleaned off it. (Not by me I might add)
So much so it is quite a dark grey. It has been finely worked and it has some dents which may have occurred in transit from the UK. It has acorns for handles on the lids.
On the bottom it has 'G D Walker Silversmith England, Electro plate 9863'
I would like to know more about it and if it was possible to get it restored.
From what I can gather there is only one restorer of antique silver in NZ and I haven't talked to them about this at all so it is only an assumption on my part.
Kind regards,
Katherine O'Regan

Mike Jones writes:
.. Hi, I bought this spoon apparently Danish. It weighs 36 grams and is 19 cm long.
It looks like the bowl has been repaired. Could you help me to identify?
Mike Jones

Cathy Scott writes:
...I have attached some photos of a tiny set of spoons (5 in. or 13 cm), a fork (5 in. or 13 cm.), and a pair of tongs (4 1/4 in. or 11 cm.) which I purchased at a local estate auction. I have looked over each piece with a jeweller's loop but have been unable to find a maker's mark. I'm not even sure they are silver but thought perhaps some of the readers of the ASCAS newsletter may be able to help.
The spoons and fork have a small disk attached to the handle end by 2 chain links.
I have been trying to identify what the script says/means and what language it may be.
I would be very grateful if you would do so in the next newsletter.
Cathy Scott

Roland Swälas writes:
...I have a Nautilus cup, made of silver and partly gilded and have some questions about this. I have been told, from a silver expert, that this was made in the end of the nineteenth century, by Neresheimer in Hanau.
Have also read Dorothea Burstyn´s articles about the silversmith´s of Hanau. However, I am still not convinced. Or maybe, I wish, it was an original. There were many of such prestige pieces brought to Sweden under the wars in the fifteens century.
I was told that, they have used originals when moulding the replicas, and with this process the hallmarking and other stamps were visible on the copy and were grinded away. I was also told that every part of the original was hallmarked before putting them together.
There are no Hallmarks and no stamps, except, in very small numbers: 9/19, in a hidden place, which I have found with very careful examination. Obviously, this is number nine of nineteen made. Where are the others?
It is hard to believe, that this is a copy, when it is so extremely well made and why did they not do any hallmarking? I think one must have been proud of his work, after knowing how to make such a great thing and it is no doubt, made of silver.
Best regards
Roland Swälas

Linda Rapczynksi writes:
... Would you be able to identify the following spoons?
Thanks so much for your help.
Linda Rapczynksi

The mark on the left I believe to belong to Russian silversmith Nikolaì Gurianov, 1868-1883.
The mark on the right is hard to read (possibly STERLING JWD?).
Giorgio Busetto.

Bryan Crenshaw writes:
... I would greatly appreciate any information or help in identifying this object that I have been told is silver. I have attached some photos of the piece and its marking. Any help at all would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration
Bryan Crenshaw

Paulina Wojdak writes:
... I have a question concerning a miniature silver samovar with cloisonné decoration. It may have been a souvenir piece. The fineness is ‘84’ for 875/1000 zol..
The zolotnik was also used in Poland but the samovar subject suggests Russian origin. There are no other markings. It stands 10 cm high and is 7 cm across at the handles. The top opens to a hollow space not connected to the spout.
My questions are: country of origin, city if possible, use, and approximate date for the piece.
Other information would be most welcome also.
Thank you in advance for any comments offered
Paulina Wojdak

Maurizio Perota writes:
... I have a small inkstand fully hallmarked with French marks corresponding to the period 1809-1819.
The mark of the 'Département' has the code letter 'B', unknown to me.
I'm trying to locate the town to which the code 'B' refers and my hypothesis is that this code refers to a town outside of France, in an occupied country (maybe Italy?).
I'd also appreciate knowing where the full list of 'Département' (France and outside) is available.
Thank you in advance
Maurizio Perota

Fred Sinfield writes:
...This is a little item that might be of interest for ASCAS' members: A Match Box Cover?
This is an intriguing piece because not only is it a part gilded and part plated; there is section on top with a lid, which once had a release to open it.
The decoration is in the Japanese style so possibly dates from the latter part of the 19th century.
On the base is the French boar’s head punch together with a maker’s mark that is rubbed so it is undecipherable.
The removable slide section is plated and had some kind of insert in the side panels that has disappeared.
At some time Christine Owens was indebted to Eileen Owens and issued an undated IOU that was tucked in lid of the matchbox.
Does any reader know what this might be, what the lid section was for other than hiding an IOU, have a similar box or any information that might solve this little mystery of this small item?
Regards,
Fred

Kari Helenius writes:
...I have two beakers from late 17th century with similar looking engraved marks:
Beaker 1. (left) is made in Augsburg 1673 by Christian Jebenz. It has once been part of the 'Ratsilberschatz of the Stadt Schmalkalden'.
There are four coats of arms engraved on the sides. These coats of arms belonged to four members of the city council of that time. There is a bird engraved on the top of one side
Beaker 2. (right) is apparently made in Russia late 17th century. There are no marks except a similar bird on the bottom. The upper part of the bird-marks are identical, but the lower parts differ from each other.
Would anybody ASCAS readers know or have an explanation for these marks??
Kari Helenius

Replies to questions

Tony Phillips received this reply about the mark of his spoons ( see March Newsletter)   Hymie Dinerstein writes: about Tony's marks on the spoon: The other mark is the Dublin import mark for 1912 Giovanni Ciceri writes: It is an Irish import mark in force since 1906. See http://www.argentinglesi.com/marchi-garanziaing.php The date letter refers to 1933 see http://www.pcol.freewire.co.uk/page4e.html

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Hamid Ghanbarezade receive these replies about the mark of his jar ( see March Newsletter)   Geoffrey Axt writes: Mr. Ghanbarzade's enamelled silver jar bears the mark of The Douglas Clock Company, Ltd. This mark is most likely a sponsor's mark rather than a true maker's mark.   Dorothea Burstyn writes: Hamid's box was made in Birmingham by D.C.Co LD in cartouche = Douglas Clock Co., Ltd, their mark is pictured on page 330, Kenneth Crisp Jones: The Silversmiths of Birmingham and their marks, 1750-1980,Fakenham Press Ltd., Fakenham, Norfolk 1981   Lloyd Prator writes: Despite the fact that this is obviously not a clock, I think it was made by the Douglas Clock Company, Ltd., a firm registered in about 1904. It may have been part of a dresser set consisting of mirrors, combs, clocks, jars and other sorts of dresser ware

Janet Rose and Kathy Lattin receive two other replies about their small open handled backsaw ( see February Newsletter)   Joseph Bozzino writes .... I would like to offer further information on the question by Janet Rose and Kathy Litten. I cannot contribute on the marks, but feel the 'saw' is a surgical instrument. As it was made in England, I would suggest an approach to the Curator of the Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. Karin Sixl-Daniell writes: ... I just wanted to let you know that I came across something to add to a question submitted by Janet Rose and Kathy Lattin in the February newsletter. I just saw such a piece on Koopman’s website ( http://www.rareartlondon.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=6&tabindex=5&objectid=16537 ) where this piece (see picture below) is described as a 'cucumber saw'.

Shailesh Sawant sends this information about the mark of his cigarette case (see October 2006 Newsletter)   .... Managed to get some information about the case I asked you about. Maker's mark is T.F. Nicholls and Son and the case is certainly from 1917 period. This maker was closed in 1922, and hence not much is available from this maker. I queried about this in October but hope this will help others. Thanks and Regards, Shailesh Sawant

Hymie Dinerstein receives this reply about his cup ( see March Newsletter)   Kari Helenius writes: ... I went through all my Scandinavian, Baltic and North German books but did not find any similar marks or a similar 'cup' These are the photos of one 'cup' in my collection with exactly the same profile: However it is a bit larger 2 5/8" in diameter, 4" from handle to handle and 1 5/16" tall. Weight is 46,5 grams. The two handles are 'Mermaid Angels with double tails' (Never heard of such) It is made in Nuremberg in 1640-75 by HS (Rothenberg 3764) I have no idea what has been the purpose of this cup. Is it a wine tasting cup or a schnapps becher or a porringer? Best regards Kari

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"A PAGE per MONTH"

In this column we present a page (one page only) obtained from makers' brochures, books, auction catalogs or whatever other printed paper, which may be of particular interest for ASCAS members.
The images will be published at a "low resolution" level and for private and personal use only

This month ASCAS presents a page of Sterling Silver Mounted Suspenders, Glove Supporters, Armlets, Darners, etc. from the 1907 catalog of E.V. Roddin & Co., Chicago , Illinois, "Oldest Jewelry Mail Order House in America" (image supplied by Joanne Wiertella)

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"A WORD per MONTH"