posted 10-02-2008 01:37 PM            

When I studied the marks at each piece a found two kind of Minerva heads which were used. Now I know that from 1814 they marked flatware with another looking profile than after 1910. Because there are 17 assay offices here in Holland I don't know if there good be a difference in using two Minerva heads profiles, or which assay office used which special one?

I must say that the older one doesn't look very familiar with the more beautiful profile after 1910.(But that's personal taste of course!).

I should found it great if other members good send a reaction with a little photo of a Minerva head which is used in their country at silver and are they also been used as duty mark?.

I will send two photo's, the first used in the period from 1814 until 1909 and the second used in the period from 1910 until now.

Other short information (read in a archeological magazine) and perhaps interesting for the collectors of roman flatware. There is found a piece of roman flatware and only the handle/steel was found. The handle/steel was made in the pattern of a natural asparagus. The article was published with a photo. It also means that the Roman also knew the asparagus in that time(period) and that some of them used special asparagus flatware in combination.

Perhaps a good idea for the designers of modern flatware to create modern steel/handles in patterns of consumption vegetables?.