posted 01-22-2005 12:54 PM            

Here are some more pieces which have defied my attempts at identification.

These demitasse spoons each bear a mark which, frustratingly enough, appears to be Chinese/Kanji, or else some other non-Western form of writing. I wish I had the foresight in college to be prepared for this and study the Far-Eastern tongues, but frankly I didn't think I'd need it.

The little information I was able to find indicated that much of Chinese export silver was marked in English, but these clearly are not. Maybe they were intended for the domestic market? I could be wrong about guessing China, but that's why I'm posting. Anyway, the bamboo motif isn't any discouragement.

There don't appear to be that many references on the domestic marks of Chinese silver, but maybe someone out there has done some study on the subject and may identify these as indeed being Chinese, or from some other specific country, and may perhaps even identify a maker.

Much thanks if anyone would be so helpful. Oh, and there is a distinct possibility that I have posted the marks upside down or sideways. If so, my apologies, but I wouldn't know one way or the other.