Two new articles for ASCAS website

Giovanni Ciceri presents: A Victorian sugar bowl of exceptional quality Una bowl vittoriana di straordinaria qualità The description of a bowl (probably a sugar bowl) manufactured in London in 1851 by the well known Royal Silversmith Robert Garrard. English / Italiano

Martine D'Haeseleer presents: Philippe Wolfers' Japonism in Belgium the history of the well known Belgian silversmith Philippe Wolfers and his family workshop. click here

Members' Window # 22

Giorgio Busetto presents: Forty years of Italian silver vases Following through five silver vases the evolution of taste in Italy in the first half of the past century click here

Questions from ASCAS members

Wayne Robbins writes:
......I am sending a few photos of an item I recently acquired. It is a needle case hallmarked 1799 by Samuel Pemberton of Birmingham.
I have never seen one shaped like this. It may be more accurately described as an etui ...
I really don't know. I would appreciate any feedback from other members who may know more about it.
I am aware that Samuel Pemberton was quite active in making snuff boxes. Just wondering if this is kind of a rare item for him to have made.
Many thanks.
Wayne Robbins

Christina R. Green writes:
...I have what I thought was a tea pot made by Reed & Barton with the number 2765 on the bottom. I paid for an appraisal and was told it was a Victorian hot water pot and the base was missing. Can you tell me where I could find a photo to compare mine to? I do not agree with the appraisal as my item has four legs and measures 9 in tall and 5.5 wide unlike the large example photo the appraiser sent me. I have sent along some photos Also note the pot is very tarnished.
Thank you for your time,
Christina

Nikica Vuletic submits two questions:
...On some Italian silver objects i found hallmark REC in a lozenge. In handbooks I was not able to find meaning of this hallmark. I do not believe it could be a makers mark or manufacture but rather some official state mark (tax, import, export ??).
REC on my photo is stamped on a teapot that I bought in Croatia (with AL -town of Alessandria- hallmark with fascio).
Another hallmark REC is together with '800' on the bottom of a silver glass bought in Trieste (Italy: near the Croatian border).

damaged hanging lamp	Venice's hallmark	computer reconstruction of the silver lamp

The mark refers to Zuan Piero Grappiglia, assayer in Venice (saggiatore di Zecca), active from mid 18th to the beginning of 19th century.
Giorgio Busetto

George Zochowski writes:
...Does any member of the association have a de-code list of hallmarks on Egyptian silver?
Left mark = fineness ( ? 800)
Middle mark = Lotus flower (Egypt, post 1946)
Right mark = Date of assay
I cannot find references for fineness and date glyphs
Would appreciate any information

Rick Bakke writes:
... I have recently inherited a small set of tea spoons that I am trying to find out some information on. I do not expect they are worth much but it would be nice to know some history or information on them.
They were brought to America from Germany by my Wife's Great Great Grandmother.
Can you tell me anything about them based on the pictures attached?
5 tea-spoons in a red lined box.
Engraving on back: M.L.
Embossed on back: E.K. 13
Hallmark: per picture
Thank you for your time and any information you might be able to supply.
Rick Bakke

What is this piece ???

Nikica Vuletic submits this Mystery object:
I have a mysterious silver object (or only a part of an object) that has 19th century Rome (Papal State) hallmark.
I do not know if some parts are missing (lid or or glass liner) or it may even be complete (maybe a vase of unknown use or an elongated salt cellar)
It weighs about 120 grams and is 12 centimeters tall.

The object has the hallmark used in the Papal State between 1815 and 1870 to identify 889/1000 fineness silver (Chiavi di San Pietro e tiara pontificia) and a further assay mark '800' added after Rome's annexion to the Kingdom of Italy (September 20, 1870).
I hope that ASCAS members may identify this unusual object (a religious vase?, part of an inkstand set? or other?)

This month 180 members not confirming their 2006 membership were cancelled from ASCAS files.
My thanks to 200 'survivors', most of them belonging to ASCAS since 2004 (ASCAS was founded in April 2004).
ASCAS confirms its status of no-profit association, without commercial links and opened to whomever has a true interest for the knowledge of antique silver. It has no commercial objective, no fees are requested nor accepted from members and, therefore, the association is not available to manage and distribute hundreds of unread e-mails.
Members are requested to contribute to maintain ASCAS alive supplying articles, photos, information or, at least, reading (and I hope appreciating) our Monthly Newsletters.

Your comments, suggestions and advice on February 2006 Newsletter will be of great help.

My thanks to Rick Bakke (USA), Giovanni Ciceri (Italy), Martine D'Haeseleer (Belgium/Spain), Christina R. Green (USA), Wayne Robbins (USA), Cindy Sephton (USA), Nikica Vuletic (Croatia), George Zochowski (UK) for their invaluable contributions.

Giorgio Busetto
Secretary