posted 02-12-2009 06:38 AM            

Subject is a cigaret box and the material could be silver, but the fact given that there isn't a change of shine by time past, I wonder if it is a tin-silver product.

With cleaning I removed parts of thin plastic folie. Production period around 1960? Decoration acanthus leafs and the box looks a little Dyokya style, to me.

It's made in Holland, there is only one mark at the bottom.(no further marks to find).

The mark shows a sailing cargo ship like they sailed formerly in Holland.

In the mainsail is standing the letter Y.

Often in mainsails of these kind of boats the letter stood for the harbor of their basis.

Or the factory used the symbol with letter because they also were situated in the same harbor city?
If it should be silverplated the box should be changed with his shine running the time.

So I'm curious about this material and I now it is hard to find out by photo.

Here are some photo's taken from the box and also one photo of the cargo sailing ships they used formerly for transporting goods over national waters in Holland.

Nowadays the ships are mostly sold to a group of water sport minded people and once a year there are sailing races in Friesland (northern province in Holland)and about twenty boats (skutsjes) and it's a marvelous show on water.(I am beginning to doubt if I work for a travel organization?). I have sailed for about 25 years so that is the reason behind it.

Back to the box and the topic, I hope somebody recognize this pattern, decoration, period and material.

Thanks a lot,
Silverhunter.

The sizes of the box are:length 5 inches, wide 3.6 inches and high 1 inch and weight 1 Lb.

posted 02-12-2009 07:43 PM            

Nice box, can we have a clearer picture of that mark or can you describe it please.

Just a thought but perhaps if you could identify the boat & its flag that might help. I am guessing it is a racing sloop & maybe the box was a prize given.

posted 02-13-2009 04:42 AM            

Dale, I will better look if it is handmade, it is nice done. I've learned that with hand engraving mistakes can be made by a engraver. The material could be recognized by you if you should be possible to see the cigar box. Interesting to know is that they were also produced by the countries you mentioned and period indication. I also doubt if the date is around 1880 and agree if the period is between the two World wars, or even around 1950/1960.

About engraving it is just difficult I've tried it once, a attempt on a coppor material and was glad I have chosen that material, knowing it should be normal a artificial job. It stayed by one attempt ofcourse.

posted 02-13-2009 07:21 PM            

Not much help I'm afraid, but the only mark I can think of is by Gorham who used the letter Y to denote copper & a sailboat for the year 1926.

Please give me the word in your language that you cannot translate. Maybe someone I know, or on the Forum can translate it.

Thank you!

posted 02-14-2009 01:55 PM            

Out of full sheet sail- voor de wind.
half sheet sail? quickest way?- halve wind.
Sharp at the wind sailing?- aan de wind.

posted 02-15-2009 10:51 AM            

But thanks for the try.

posted 02-15-2009 04:29 PM            

Too bad the mark it was not a match.

Thanks FWG for the translation.

Silverhunter, what are the other photo's in the box about? Trying to find some clue as to what it may have been given for, which may then lead to a maker. Also, what are the measurements of the box, and does a magnet stick to it anywhere.

posted 02-15-2009 04:42 PM            

But when I cleaned it in a warm water combination with thin foil and soda there came thin plastic parts free from the surface of the material.

It has to be continental and I don't doubt about that either.

Standard silver items has four marks in Holland and this material is indicated with only one ? mark so it will be a question mark not solved I think. If I ever find the solution I will react again but it will be unsolved I suppose.

Also thank you for your reaction Paul!

posted 02-15-2009 05:06 PM            

It is a anti magnetic material: aluminum, nickle,pewter substance or kind of combination. Jersey what do you mean by the question: "the other photo's in the box about", I don't understand what you mean?

The right measures I will give tomorrow, but little cigars or filter cigarettes should fit inside the box.

posted 02-15-2009 10:50 PM            

You said "Here are some photo's taken from the box and also one photo of the cargo sailing ships they used formely for tranporting goods over national waters in Holland."

You only showed one photo, what were the other photographs in the box?

Thank you

posted 02-16-2009 03:33 AM            

I've send just one photo for example considering the mark as look like.

I don't know how many photo's maximum can send with each topic, but it's also a matter that not everyone loves water sport or like to see a old sailing boat from Holland of course, or don't like the subject. But I will send just one photo with so many boats as possible and it will be a photo taken with a sailing race in Friesland (northern province of Holland)each year the organize this sailing race and it's a beautiful show. I'm not standing as crew somewhere but I wished to be one. Hard working against wind and nature.

No way to organize a sailing race together with the boats fast ships for the American cup, I know that boats just fly over the water and there is given a real cup as price.

These boats (skutjses) were build around mid 19th century and there are more tpes or patterns but that is just a very long story and nobody has a vacation at this moment.

And sometimes wind can be strong!