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Need help identifying sterling fork

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Author	Topic: Need help identifying sterling fork
starrj3030 Posts: 14 Registered: Mar 2011	posted 03-11-2011 08:52 PM [26-2133] Hi all, I’ve been trying to find out who makes a little 5 ½” fork that I have and where it comes from. According to the [another]site, it looks like its one of Dutch origin. The tiny sword/keyhole-looking mark on the back looks like it has circular images inside of it, but it is truly indistinguishable with a 8 x Lupe. Also, another mark is blowing my mind. It looks like B77 or 877 or B-n or u-B, whichever way you turn it. Thanks, Starr Hello. I'm so glad to be joining such a forum to look at everyone else's "finds" and seeing/reading how they're identified and what everything means (duh look on my face). I'm a private collector that has well over 400 pieces of flatware and etc. I absolutely LOVE all of them and wouldn't part with any if my life depended on it (well, maybe then - but only then!). I only purchase, never ever sell (hence the "I wouldn't part with any") I've researched every piece and catalog each of them (giant folder crammed with paper), this one however cannot make it to the catalog yet (sitting next to loupe and magnifying glass for weeks now). I cannot find out who makes it, what year and what pattern it is (husband mad, wondering why I'm not in bed until 7am every morning for weeks now). I'm now posting the two pictures that I posted before (not popular enough to get looks or answers) plus one other of the marks on back (cheap ass camera). Thanks a million for looking (squinting) and I hope you can help me. Starr IP: Logged
Hose_dk Posts: 400 Registered: May 2008	posted 03-21-2011 01:13 AM Welcome to the forums. I can help a little. The fork is made around 1900 +/- a bit and the sword mark is set on items from the Netherlands. Holland Dutch in English. Sword mark was set on smaller items. Don't know maker, sorry. IP: Logged
starrj3030 Posts: 14 Registered: Mar 2011	posted 03-21-2011 03:12 AM Hi! Thank you so much for replying to my post (1st one, yeah!). I appreciate the information! IP: Logged
Hose_dk Posts: 400 Registered: May 2008	posted 03-21-2011 07:21 AM Your welcome, let the questions keep comming. In some cases we can answer in other it will remain a mystery. But normally someone knows. We all started asking questions - later we also reply, but we never stop asking. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 03-21-2011 02:50 PM Welcome to the forum Starr! I like your fork. It is a mixture of artistic styles but I think it comes off pretty nicely. I would agree with Hose_dk in it being from the Netherlands and that it is most likely turn of the century, give or take, in age. The silver purity should be 83.3 percent (by comparison, sterling is 92.5 percent). I do not recognize the second mark and hopefully someone here will. My guess is that is that it could be either the maker's or retailer's mark, but when I squint my eyes and let my imagination go free I think it could also be another purity mark applied by someone along the way. The B might be an 8 and the two squiggles might be a pair of 3's which would have it read 833 or the purity standard of the state applied sword marking? Sometimes markings are applied in a hurry and the die jumps a bit or is uneven in the strike, or it is just a worn or chipped die. IP: Logged
starrj3030 Posts: 14 Registered: Mar 2011	posted 03-21-2011 06:13 PM Thank you so much for the info and the welcome! I'm still looking high and low for the maker and pattern. I know it's Dutch, but other than that it's like bees in my head trying to find out any more information. Take care, Starr IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 03-22-2011 09:49 AM Often such fanciful and elaborate designs are not parts of patterns and do not have pattern names, rather they are made in one or two forms like a set of fancy desert forks that come in a box, or a set of fancy coffee spoons that come in a box, or a set of forks and knives for eating fruits, or a fork that was sold with a nice dish for sweet meats, or a pickle fork that was sold with a pickle castor, etc. The twisted section of your fork suggests that the design is not strong enough to be a regular use table fork as this would bend under pressure, so one of the above mentioned special uses is more likely. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 03-22-2011).] IP: Logged
starrj3030 Posts: 14 Registered: Mar 2011	posted 03-22-2011 11:11 AM Okay, that makes sense about the size and strength of it. I've searched and searched about that and concluded it was a youth fork. It's 5 1/2" long and the tines are only 1 1/4". Not strong enough for serving, too small for an adult. I just found out also that the B77 mark on it is Christiaan Jacobs Bruinings, Joure, 1857 and I knew the other mark was Dutch, so now it's the pattern that has me perplexed. Thanks, S IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 03-22-2011 09:30 PM Welcome also and good going on the images. Kimo has given the jist of your lovely fork and I would just add that the twist indicates that this was more a hand made one off than a die struck or hand forged pattern. The way this was probably made was the handle and the tines were made separately and then a square wire was soldered between. Because it was now soft from the heat it was twisted which work hardened the wire (also shortening and thickening for more strength and less weight). These twisted handles are a case of the design coming from a technical necessity. IP: Logged
starrj3030 Posts: 14 Registered: Mar 2011	posted 03-24-2011 03:46 PM Thanks a million for the photo kudos. I'm really excited to find out who makes it and now, thanks to you, to find out how and why it was made the way it was. I have many pieces that have twisted handles (demitasse spoons in generally - BIG collector of them!) and I know that they can't bear much weight/use. Just a slow stir is about all they're good for. Anyway, I love them all whether they bend, twist, curve or swirl. Thanks again, Starr IP: Logged

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