posted 09-28-2004 07:56 PM              

Hi,

I just bought a small silver(?) cup with a mark that I can't find anywhere. It measures about 5 inches high and is slightly tapered as it goes from rim to base. The rim has a small lip that hangs over. There is a pattern of diagonally vertical curved lines around the body, with two horizontal lines, one just under the rim and one just above the base. If it were painted, the design would look like a barber pole.

The bottom outside of the cup is unmarked, but inside the cup on the bottom are two markings. There is an oval with what looks like a full-bodied woman with wings holding something in her left hand. Under that is a key facing diagonally toward the upper left with the teeth facing down. On the other end is a square with one circle on each point. Above the key is a "W" in uppercase serif font, and below the key is an "A" in the same style. Under this mark is "1726" and the number 1 looks European to me (with a longer serif at the top).

There are no machining marks on it and the engraved lines are slightly uneven. Any help would be appreciated, and I have attached a picture of the cup, although I can't take a picture of the marks because they are on the inside.

Thanks
David

posted 09-29-2004 04:38 PM            

I am interested now to find out who made it and where it is from.

Thanks,
David

posted 09-29-2004 08:05 PM            

Believe that your piece is pewter. The angel with scales is a common quality mark used in Germany, Austria and occasionally the Scandinavian countries from the 1700s on. Possible that the date of 1726 is accurate, but I've seen reproductions with similar year marks. This piece doesn't appear have the aging and patina I'd expect to see on an older piece.