posted 04-30-2005 12:34 PM            

Wyler identifies the mark as Budapest, and the date is 1886, 13 Loth silver.

Does anyone know the maker? The mark, which is partly effaced, seems to be two cursive "G"s.

Also, I thought the Austrian Empire had a single mark, which changed in 1868, when it became the Austro-Hungarian, but was standard throughout the realm. It seems though, that Hungary had its own mark as well.

Does anyone know the background on this?

Thanks,
Tom

posted 04-30-2005 11:38 PM            

Before that, Budapest was actually three cities - Buda, Obuda, and Pest - each with its own guild and city mark. The mark here is that of the old city of Pest (Pesth).

There was a maker GG at the time: György Goszmann (also Gossmann), born 1807, apprenticed 1825 to Ferenc Pasperger, master 1839, died ca. 1866. His mark was "GG" in script, but there's a problem. Goszmann's "GG" was always in a serrated oval, not smooth as it is here.

The mark you have here, I think, is actually "JP" in script, the mark of Józef Pasperger II (also Papsberger/Paschberger). Not much is known about him, but that he was apprenticed around 1827, became a master around 1835 (when his mark first appears), and died around 1856 (the last appearance of his mark). He was undoubtedly a member of the large and important Pasperger family of Pest goldsmiths, probably the son of Ferenc Pasperger, (Goszmann's master mentioned earlier).

posted 05-01-2005 01:10 AM            

Thanks for the great information. I knew thatBuda and Pest were not combined until 1873 and about the Diana head symbol of post 1867. Actually, the Hungarians forced the Austrians to accept them as partners in the dual monarchy following Austria's defeat by Prussia. I thought though that the earlier Austrian mark was mandated throughout the empire, but obviously that was not the case.

I bought this at the town of St. Andrews (in English) near the Danube bend. It is apparently rarer than I thought, and the seller thought it was Vienna, 1886! I am sure you are right, but I would still like to see the makers marks photo you have, which would be clearer than mine.

Thanks again for the help,
Tom

posted 05-01-2005 01:09 PM            

(He also used two other marks, the first being "GOSZMANN", which he used as a journeyman before 1838, and a second, much later, mark which is only a slight variant on the one above.)

And this is J�zef Pasperger II's mark:

posted 05-01-2005 11:04 PM            

Thanks, I missed your post. The letter code will be very helpful. I read German but not Hungarian. I suppose I need to scower bookstores with the same enthusiasm I do antique silver dealers next time I am in Europe! Your help is much appreciated.