|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Please help me identify this flatware
|
 SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Please help me identify this flatware |
|
endorasboxer Posts: 9 |
posted 02-27-2005 10:57 AM
  
I purchased this beautiful flatware at auction and can't figure out the make. I'd love to find out because I'd love to purchase more. There are 3 hallmarks. One is pineappley looking, but not really. The other seems to have a lot of curlicues and possibly a snake. The 3rd is tiny, pin prick in the photo, but under magnification is a roman looking head in profile. Thanks in advance. IP: Logged |
|
tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 02-27-2005 03:06 PM
Any chance of getting a close-up of the hallmarks? The pineapply thing (great new word by the way!) looks like the town mark for Augsburg, Germany prior to 1888. However, I would not offer that as more than a guess, without a closer view of the marks. Good luck, IP: Logged |
|
tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 02-27-2005 03:26 PM
PS the pineapply thing may be a pomegrante. IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 02-27-2005 03:32 PM
Not my area at all, but look like they might be French marks? Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
|
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 02-27-2005 03:40 PM
 IP: Logged |
|
tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 02-27-2005 04:26 PM
I bet Chery is right. The diamond and whatever is in it (still cannot make out the detail) would be the maker's mark, the head a guarantee mark, and pineapple/pomegrant-whatever would be a town mark (?) Tom IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 02-27-2005 04:39 PM
Not my usual taste, but I find these very appealing. Are those panels of another material on the sides? Mother of pearl, perhaps? Or am I imagining it? Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
|
endorasboxer Posts: 9 |
posted 02-27-2005 05:37 PM
They have mother of pearl on the sides. I just got them, really love them and wish I knew the make so that I could try to search for more. Thanks for your input here. IP: Logged |
|
Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 03-02-2005 11:36 PM
These marks might be French. You would have to get some magnification going and describe clearly what is in each mark for us to be sure. If they are French, the lozenge (diamond-shaped) mark would be the maker's mark. In your picture, I can make out a C as well as what looks like a medal hanging from a ribbon (you call this a pineappley thing). Could the pineapple be a medal hanging from a ribbon? Are there other letters in the diamond? I'm leaning towards the maker Cardeilhac, based on this somewhat fuzzy view. If you can be more precise about the marks, I could give you more information. In any case this is a European fruit or cheese service (probably cheese from the shape of the knife tip) in the neo-Renaissance style, most likely 19th C. Knowing the length of the pieces also would be helpful. If the maker is French, finding exactly matching pieces will be problematical. However, the French love to mix and match, so you could follow their example and set a tr�s chic table with a mixed service. IP: Logged |
|
Patrick Vyvyan Posts: 640 |
posted 03-03-2005 05:02 AM
I guess the diamond or losenge is the maker's mark, and thus probably French (I wonder if it might be a snowflake). But the other larger mark with the criss-cross pineapple lines has me baffled. However, it seems the outline to the mark on the knife and fork is very different. Could these marks have been deliberately defaced? This might explain the third mark, the tiny head, which might then be some form of import or export mark? IP: Logged |
|
labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 03-03-2005 12:44 PM
The one marked is the minerva guarantee mark,used since 1838 and has been defaced.You can tell by turning the piece over and directly oppoosite of this mark is the characteristic countermark. The small mark is an export mark, a winged head of mercury facing left used 1839-1879 that is presuming there is no cartouche. The third mark is the maker's mark in a lozenge cartouche. To identify it, you will have to find the best example and get a good close up. Similar patterns are quite common in France although finding an exact match could be difficult depending on the maker. IP: Logged |
|
Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 03-03-2005 10:44 PM
Could these be bronze rather than silver. And so marked according to a very different system? They look really great, almost architectural in quality. Which is why bronze popped into my head. I have seen some pieces that turned out to be a bronze rather than the usual silver gilt. Just a suggestion. IP: Logged |
|
endorasboxer Posts: 9 |
posted 03-03-2005 10:48 PM
Thanks for all the information. Patrick, why would a hallmark be defaced? [This message has been edited by endorasboxer (edited 03-04-2005).] IP: Logged |
|
endorasboxer Posts: 9 |
posted 03-03-2005 10:54 PM
Dale, there is no evidence of bronze. They are definitely silver or silver plated/nickel silver. Here is the hallmark on my set and a hallmark I found on a Cardeilhac set. The lozenge snowflake and the "c" appear to be similar. Kayvee, perhaps you've nailed it? Any thoughts? IP: Logged |
|
Patrick Vyvyan Posts: 640 |
posted 03-04-2005 04:58 AM
As much as indicating metal content, French marks also indicate that the correct tax has been paid. Silver intended for export however was tax free. Here presumably the domestic tax was paid first and the object was marked with the Minerva head. Subsequently however it was exported and the tax reclaimed. Thus it was re-marked, defacing the Minerva and replacing it with the small Mercury mark. [This message has been edited by Patrick Vyvyan (edited 03-04-2005).] IP: Logged |
|
agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 03-04-2005 08:35 AM
Thankyou Patrick, another piece of the french puzzle! IP: Logged |
|
Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 03-04-2005 03:12 PM
From the photos I would say that the maker is Cardeilhac. This firm began business in the early years of the 19th C and sold out to Christofle in 1951. The "snowflake" is a medal hanging from a ribbon. As another poster indicated, you could find similar pieces in the neo-Renaissance style, but an exact match is unlikely. Enjoy your set! IP: Logged |
All times are ET | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a
|
1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums. 2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development). 3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post. |
|
copyright © 1993 - 2022
SM Publications
All Rights Reserved. Legal & Privacy Notices |
