posted 04-22-2006 08:34 AM            

Was it something I said to cause my post to be snipped, (well more than snipped it was deleted)? Just showed a napkin ring, properly sized I thought? Asked if anyone had heard of a silversmith by a certain name.

posted 04-22-2006 10:39 AM            

You would have gotten some kind of explanation. I suspect the electrons disappeared some where in cyber space through no one's fault.

posted 04-22-2006 11:13 AM            

In the future I would suggest you send an email instead of making this type of inquiry a post. Of course, if we haven't replied to your e-mail (give it a few days), then by all means this type of post is appropriate as your email might have been lost to the SPAM bucket.

posted 04-22-2006 02:32 PM            

I saw the post too, and when I went to respond it was gone so I couldn't recall who posted it to leave a response.

Here is what I found. There was an auction a year or so ago with a couple of napkin rings with that makers name & the auction house had them listed as Victorian reproductions.

I do know there are many beautiful reproductions being made in the "old" style. How to tell the difference I don't know.

Try a search for reproduction figural silver napkin rings, that may help.

posted 04-23-2006 08:25 AM            

I showed it to a 89 year old silver dealer and she said she thought it may be a reproduction, perhaps made in Italy. I found 2 marks (both the same) which were unreadable. Then the C. Grigley on the base as well.

Back to this 89 year old woman, she drives herself several hundred miles to shows say in Atlanta and other places! Remarkable.....

Found it jersey! Auction for one by the same maker, while the figurals are different, the base is the same. thanks for your help.

posted 04-23-2006 09:08 AM            

Glad I could be of help.

Reproduction or not it is still a lovely piece, so enjoy it. Your post also made me aware of this being done & I will now be more careful in my buying.

posted 04-23-2006 11:01 AM            

There is a subscription website called repronews.com (Antique & Collectors Reproduction News) by the publishers of Antique Trader. They issue articles and updates on fakes and reproduction items.

There are a number of articles about Victorian figural napkin rings. A synopsis: there is an American maker of high quality reproductions named James Mackie (hallmark "JM", also "J(crown)M" he is a silversmith and the items are collectible in their own right. The mark is tiny compared to a pencil tip so you must look carefully.

There are also lower quality items from various companies coming out of China. Obvious quality differences such as visible seams, lack of fine detail, grinding scratches inside the ring, also casting method used (old ones are cast solid and new ones are sometimes filled) and new designs that didn't originally exist help to identify them. Old rings are usually die stamped with the maker's mark, new marks are often cast in the mold.

I hope this helps.

By the way, yours looks to have lovely quality detail, none of the rings I saw pictured in repronews were of your item.

posted 04-23-2006 06:46 PM            

This was purchased at a charity store. It was so pretty to me and it doesn't take much to make me happy. I know that it would not have remained on that shelf for long, surprised it waited for me to come along. It is nicely made, the hunting dog is alert looking and the bird ready to take flight. Hate to admit being so backwards here, but this is the first napkin holder I have ever seen in real life.