Members' Window # 35

Giovanni Ciceri presents: Two Elkington & Co. silver pieces (English version) Due argenti di qualità di Elkington & Co. (Italian version) In the pocket edition of Jackson Hallmarks, Ian Pikford defines Elkington's production as "ranging from the very ordinary to very important design; the quality is always superb" This is the synthesis of what you may feel in the presence of silverware manufactured by Elkington & Co. In this "Members' Window" Giovanni Ciceri presents a cruet stand /electroplated silver) and a compote (sterling silver) made by Elkington & Co between Victoria and Edward VII reigns. click here       clicca qui

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Your fine enamelled jar was made in Birmingham in 1905 but I do not know the name of the maker. I've published your photos and I hope that ASCAS members will be able to identify the silversmith.
Best regards
Giorgio Busetto

Fredric Sinfield writes:
...I'm seeking information about a small dish. It is 80x40mm, weighs 68.5grams, has three feet with masks and beasts for the two handles.
The story is that whilst on holidays in another city nothing of interest was spotted having done the rounds of the stores until a visit to an antique furniture shop.
Expected not to find anything but in a cabinet was the small bowl, it was so dirt encrusted no marks could be seen so it was a speculative purchase on the hunch it was an old piece of silver.
The town mark appears to Augsburg.
Can any member confirm this and identify the maker's mark?
Not sure if it's upside down in the photo.
Also, the significance of the seated knight in the centre of the dish with a banner featuring bear?
Any clues will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Fred

Fredric Sinfield writes:
... The Arabic reads as Bron, the only place of that name I can trace is in Ghana. This might explain why floriated designs were chosen in keeping with Islamic decorative practises.
The Europeans were there so it is possible they purchased silver items from the local makers.
I can find no reference to any silversmiths or marks from that region, maybe a reader knows about these pieces which appear to be ladies dressing table accoutrements.
below are the lids showing the designs.

left to right
Fig 1 is 90x50mm, weighs 128grams.
Fig 2 is 75x85mm, weighs 82grams.
Fig 3 is 75x40mm, weighs 78grams.
Marks are illustrated on the second row
 

Any ideas or suggestions?
Regards,
Fred.

Nicolas Ciarlo writes:
I’m student of Archaeology in Argentina and I’ve been analyzing with metallographic and chemical techniques many spoons from a British shipwreck lost off Patagonia in 1770.
One of them was made of silver and I saw a pair of unexpected diffuse marks on the back side of the bowl.
As you can see in the picture (without scale, the stem is broken) I’m sending you, both letters are separated. The left one is a "T" under a figure that looks like "fleur-de-lis" and the other one is a "B" also under a "fleur-de-lis".
I think those marks are the maker’s ones. And I thought that they were British marks, but a specialist in British ones told me that would be French. I have no written information about the French silver marks and their makers in 18th century.
I really appreciate if you could help me with the source of the complete name of the maker and any information of him, like where the company was located, how long it remained in use, etc.
Finally, why the letters were stamped on the bowl and not on the stem?
Thank you in advance
Best regards
Nicolas

Tomislav Muhic writes:
I have problem with one hallmark found on the Takowo cross, made in period of 1876 till 1878. Usually production of this order was by many Viennese markers, but this piece doesn't match to any of their models.
The crosses of that particular model were awarded in the beginning of the war with Turkey in summer 1876. In that period Austria was strongly against changing the political conditions on the Balkans, mostly because of its interests in Bosnia (later occupied and annexed), so it is almost totally impossible that this order was made in Vienna.
In that time only Russia was supporting Serbia, but unofficially, over the "Slovenian comity". Serbia has terrible loses in that war, what also wasn't of interest to West and Russia, so they started with support in late autumn of 1876. Austria ultimate his help with comfirming its interest in Bosnia by Serbian side, and started to send aid in November of 1876.
My problem is who could possibly make these orders in the summer of 1876. This hallmark is my only lead. The hallmark is rhomboid shape, with letter L on the bottom, and the siluette of the frog (this may be not correct, but is my only information) in the middle.
I'm sending you some pictures. Sorry but I don't have any better, I got this by Serbian collector from Switzerland.
I hope that maybe you can help me.
Best regards,
Tomislav Muhic

Lanfranco Bruschini writes:
these are the images of a silver tray marked with "84" (in Arabic). It has an elaborate embossed rim with figures and another central figure on horse. I believe that "84" refers to purity degree in zolotnicki (system used, beside Russia, also in Iran).
Dimension: 37X25 cms , weight 660 gr.
I'm looking for information about its origin and age.
Thank you for your help.
Lanfranco Bruschini

Kari Helenius writes:
...Here is something for which I hope to get an answer from the fellow members.
I have got two filigree silver cup "covers", which I believe are called zarfs. The diameters at the top are 57 / 55 mm or 2 1/4" / 2 1/8". The heights are 42 / 38 mm or 1 11/16" / 1 1/2 ".
I attach a few pictures. I am interested to know where do these originate, what has been the use, and what is the age.
The zarf # 1 has got a (later made) inner silver cup with a handle (charka) with Moscow marks of 1791. The inner cup also has a screw in the bottom. The Zarf itself has no marks and it is fastened to the cup´s screw with a nut.
The Zarf # 2 is just as it is with no additions. Also no marks. Also this cup is six-fold and there is a bunch of grapes of enamel-work in each section with a colored stone in the middle.
I hope that somebody can give me some idea where these come from.
Best regards
Kari

Tony Phillips writes:
...Can anyone help me. I have six spoons carrying the hallmark in the attachment. I know the English hallmark is :-SHEFFIELD 1931/2 and the maker is:-James Dixon and Sons.
I think the one underneath is the import mark but cannot seem to trace it exactly, does anyone know the mark and if possible the date,
Kind Regards
Anthony

Replies to questions

Janet Rose and Kathy Lattin receive these replies about their small open handled backsaw ( see February Newsletter)   Leslie Gray writes: I would hazard a guess that the saw in question is a surgical saw used in amputations. Rather gruesome and not my cup of tea but is certainly "collectable". The "EP" amongst the marks must surely refer to electro plate. Sorry I cannot help with the remaining marks, but perhaps other members can. Yours sincerely, Leslie Gray James Baldwin writes: Suspicions correct. It is Richard Richardson, and I would guess around 1900 in date James Baldwin Lloyd Prator writes: As to Janet and Kathy's electroplate saw with the ivory handles: I would guess this to be a ceremonial item for the opening or dedication of an object or a building, or perhaps the first day of construction of such. I imagine the saw being used to cut through a rope or a wooden barrier to symbolize the onset of construction. Ivory handled trowels were often made for the laying of corner stones, and since they were used only to smear mortar, they could be sterling. A saw would need to be harder, hence its composition of plated hard metal. Just my guess Lloyd Prator

Lucia Costa Velosa receives this reply about the marks on her pieces ( see December 2005 Newsletter)   Tomislav Muhic writes: The pieces that Mrs Velosa have are made in Vienna, and probably exported to Russia. Beside silver marks, there is also the mark VMS. This is the hallmark of well known Viennese producers Vincent Mayer's Sohne. They were also using mark VM. This was one of the best jeweller's workshop in Vienna, famous producers of orders and decorations, next to Rothe & Neffe. Beside decorations, they also made jewellery and small silver. The company was founded in the year 1810. There are no reliable data about its early period. In the year 1865. Three sons of Vincenz Mayer - Josef, Vincenz and Franz overtook the workshop and were soon granted with most prestigious title among jewellers: KuK Hoff und Kammer Juweliere. The address of the workshop was Stephansplatz 12 in Vienna. V. Mayer's sohne was the official producer of all classes of Franz Joseph Order, primary in gold. The company was also supplying the governments of Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Vatican, Persia, Ottoman Empire and many others. This workshop was closed in the year of 1922, during the post WWI economy crisis. I send also some pictures for mrs Velosa. Best regards, Tomislav Muhic

Gino Gatta receives this replies about his WMF item ( see February Newsletter)   Ellen Fuerst writes: In response to Gino Gatta's question, the item is a biscuit box. Biscuit boxes usually date to the Victorian Era (late nineteenth century). Often the boxes are in the shape of shells and some actually contain 3 compartments instead of the more typical two. Ellen Fuerst James Baldwin writes: It is a folding biscuit box. I don't know much about WMF but in silver plate this would be quite a valuable item, at least £300. In WMF perhaps more? I don't know. I've never seen a walnut one before. James Baldwin

Victoria and Larry Sherlaw receive this replies about the mark of their spoon ( see February Newsletter)   Wayne Bednersh writes: These two spoons were made in the Orient (probably China) and the marks are an imitation of the British hallmarking system. The spoons were probably made in the 1870-1885 time period. The quality of the silver is probably around the sterling standard Wayne Bednersh

Dariusz Malinowski receive these replies about the mark of his sugar bowl ( see February Newsletter)   Charles Cage writes: Regarding the two Russian items in this month's newsletter, technically they are both Polish, from Warsaw, which was under Russian jurisdiction from 1850 to 1915. Both Dariusz Malinowski's sugar bowl and Ruth Kusiowski's sleigh sculpture have the Imperial eagle and the city mark for Warsaw and the Cyrillic assayer's mark of Josef Sosnkowski, working in Warsaw 1852-1853 and again 1860-1896 (though he used this mark only 1869-1896.) The maker of Dariusz Malinowski's sugar bowl, Ch. Stern is not listed in any reference that I have, though he may be related to the M. L. Stern working in Warsaw in the 1870s. The maker (though not necessarily the designer) of Ruth Kusiowski's sleigh sculpture is T.Werner, for Teoder Werner & S., successors to Karol Malcz and working in Warsaw in the last quarter of the 19th century. Charles Cage Adam Goldsmith writes: Coincidentally the inquiry from Dariusz Malinowski and Ruth Kusiowski are about silver made in Warsaw under Russian rule. I am unable to find anything about the STERN Company but WERNERISA was a firm owned by August Werner which existed between 1867 and 1939. The assaymaster on both pieces O.C is not identified but worked between1871 and 1896. Often when one comes across pieces of Russian silver that have the makers name in English lettering or with symbols such as the one on Dariusz’ piece they are from Warsaw under Russian rule. Hope this helps Adam Goldsmith

Ruth Kusiowski receives these replies about the mark of her sculpture ( see February Newsletter)   see replies of Charles Cage and Adam Goldsmith for Dariusz Malinowski's question

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Wes Fultz receives this reply about the mark of his spoon ( see February Newsletter)   Wayne Bednersh writes: This is a very common gold plated spoon. The marks are bogus Wayne Bednersh

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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 napkin rings from the The Meriden Britannia Co 1886/7 catalog (image supplied by Terence Hodgen)

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"A WORD per MONTH"