posted 02-10-2006 01:35 PM            

It was stamped on a piece of Belgian silver made by the firm of Wolfers, ca. 1897. Wolfers participated in an exhibition in St-Petersburg and Moskou in 1898-1899. So I assumed that this piece might be one of the pieces that were on that exhibit. I bought the piece in Belgium, so it certainly came back. My guess was that this mark was an import mark, stamped on foreign wares, but I couldn't find it in Tardy or Rosenberg.

Incidentally the piece is 900/1000.

posted 02-10-2006 03:40 PM            

This is the Russian import mark: Kokoshnik looking right (1908-17), under the head the Greek letter alpha for St. Petersburg and the silver content 84 zolotniki (875/1000) - the Russians at that time did not know silver with the content of 800/1000 or 900/1000, so they took their own stamp. Before the revolution they imported nearly from all European countries goods (more imports than exports!) and you can find the import mark often on silverware - in certain circles it was chic to have European silver. Personally I doubt that this is a piece fom the exhibition (wrong Kokoshnik!)- as a participant you need no import mark. But Wolfers exported silver from Belgium to Russia. Since 20 years the Russians sell everything with 84 on it to the European market. So your piece came finally back home. In my collection I have many "far-travelled " pieces with interesting stories....

[This message has been edited by sazikov2000 (edited 02-10-2006).]

posted 02-11-2006 10:08 AM            

Kokoshnik looking left = 1896-1908

posted 02-12-2006 10:47 AM            

On [gone from the internet] you can see a fragment of a centerpiece with Russian import marks. It could be Wolfers but I can not see the European hallmarks clearly. Typical export goods to Russia of that time.

Sazikov 2000