|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
|
|
| How to Post Photos |
REGISTER (click here)
|
|
 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 17th century? silver box
|
 SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: 17th century? silver box |
|
peterfwg Posts: 3 |
posted 02-27-2005 07:47 PM
  
My wife recently gave me a lovely small silver box. It a repousse, octagonal box with putti on all sides engaged in various activities and is 1” high and 1½” in diameter. I have an interest in silver but am not well versed in older marks, and it seems to me that the box might possibly be 17th century? The hallmarks are the wider crowned leopard’s head for London, the lion passant (seemingly the older, crude form with its paw raised high) and what I assume is the maker’s mark – a dolphin or porpoise. There is no date letter. A few questions please: 1. is the box more than likely 17th century (hopefully not a forgery!)? 2. is it a pill box? 3. does anyone recognize the maker’s mark? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. IP: Logged |
|
tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 02-28-2005 12:42 AM
I doubt anyone in the 17th c. took pills. A snuff or spice box may be a better guess. The lion and leopard's head fit the 17th c. pattern, but I am puzzled by the absence of the date mark. Same for the makers mark, which I thought were usually initials. Some 16th silver did lack date letters. Hope this helps. Tom IP: Logged |
|
dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 02-28-2005 07:06 AM
Hanau (or Dutch) pseudo-hallmarks? IP: Logged |
|
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 02-28-2005 11:45 AM
While a crowned lion passant like this one was used for a few years after the introduction of the sterling mark in the 1540's, the Lion's head city mark is almost certainly incorrect - the face is entirely too human and the crown is heraldicly incorrect. Makers' marks in the 16th and 17th Centuries were not initials, but symbols of various sorts. These marks, however, appear to be later imitations (rather than forgeries), most probably Continental, as suggested in the previous post. IP: Logged |
|
peterfwg Posts: 3 |
posted 02-28-2005 07:20 PM
Thanks to everybody for their help and guidance. It gives me some direction. I will just have to take an afternoon off work and attend the Victoria & Albert Museum Silver Collection "identification" day here in London! Regards, IP: Logged |
|
akgdc Posts: 289 |
posted 02-28-2005 07:48 PM
I agree with Swarter -- these are late-19th-century Continental pseudo-hallmarks, definitely not genuine English marks (of the 17th c or any other era). Peter, if you search for the word "Hanau" in these forums, you will find considerable discussion of such pieces. IP: Logged |
|
tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 03-01-2005 09:37 AM
This discussion has me wondering: how far back do pseudo marks go? If hallmarks were intended to insure purity, then faking them must have been a problem from the beginning as well? Tom 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 |
