posted 01-02-2006 01:46 AM            

I have an oval Silver over copper box approximately 7 inches at the longest length. This belonged to my mother and grandmother (born 1898)...

I do not have a photo as I don't have a scanner however, I will do my best at describing the marks on the bottom. If anyone can identify these marks, I would be most appreciative. (I have a book on antique marks but the marks on this piece are not listed)

Three marks in a row:
First mark: Ram
Second mark: (I believe) a Persian Monarchs crown (looks like a hot air balloon)....a puffy hat (very scientific explanation, doncha think? :-\

Third mark: two backwards and upside down, "d" (This is really smoothed away by time and wear so it isn't all that clear)

Description: Lid, which is attached with a bracket, has a pastoral scene (on top) of a Scottish (maybe Irish) bagpiper, a man sitting on a stool in front of a cottage, a woman with a long skirt and boy with a dog. The man that is sitting is smoking a long pipe (possibly a clay pipe).

So, we know that it is at least as old as when the first American colonial's landed..because of the man smoking tobacco with a clay pipe and until Europeans hit America, they didn't know about tobacco. My grandmothers family from both sides were from Colonial Virginia however the scroll work on the box seems very
Rococo so those two clues don't jive...The box also has 4 blank ares on the sides (scroll work) ready for an inscription.

I would like to know where and approx. when this little oval box was made...if you can't id it with my description, I will try to get a photo..Please forgive me for not having one.

Thank you so much
Lynn in San Diego, CA

posted 01-02-2006 02:06 AM            

I am interested in finding out about the above since it is a family item..and I use it for jewelry.

I am an applied anthropologist by education specializing in environmental issues and a wildlife artist by avocation..second career.

Hope that is all you need to know..if not just ask

Lynn in San Diego, CA

posted 01-02-2006 05:37 PM            

Happy New Year and welcome to the forum. It sounds like what you have is Sheffield Plate, not sterling. Sheffield Plate consisted of bonding a layer of silver on top of copper and was used from the mid 18th c. until electroplating was discovered in the middle of the nineteenth century. Since the marking of plate was not regulated as was the marking of silver, deciphering marks is difficult.

Wyler's "Book of Old Silver" lists several companies that used a ram's head as part of their mark, but none used it in combination with a crown. However, since the crown was the hallmark for the city of Sheffield, it is quite possible that the maker added the symbol as well. The letters may be a date mark or part of the maker's mark, although date marks were not required on plate. Without photos, though, these conclusions must be viewed as very tentative.

Try and borrow a digital camera and take a photo of the box and marks. The forum has instructions for posting photos, and one of us can help you if you run into problems.
We would really like to see the item, and might be able to give you more help with a photo.

Tom

posted 01-02-2006 08:38 PM            

At least I know that it might be Sheffield plate..

Will get back to you!