Tall russian sugar tong

[Smokanabeach]

Hi everybody!

As discuss with Trev on another topic, I would like to share a sugar tong that could learn to me a lot of things (style, origin, period,...).

This tong is 16 cm tall and weight 61g. It is silver-gilted. On each part of the tong we can find a Cupid.

Looking on the hallmarks, I'm really doubting on the autenticity of the item. Ok, we find 4 hallmarks as for items from this period: Maker's mark H.A and date 1833, Moscou hallmark, quality of silver 84 engraved on the assayer's mark B.C into a diamond.

Please find bellow some clues about hallmarks (and i'm not really sure of them, beacause Postnikova is in russia and i do not speak russian...what is wrong with the picture ;-)))) That is why I don't know if the maker's and assayer's marks correspond to Moscou at that period, sorry)



Impatient to have your opinion on it!

Thanks Friends!

Smoka

[Qrt.S]

Impatient indeed :-)))

What do you want to know? You have already figured everything out.

What is wrong with the picture is that #2104 shows the initials НЛ (NL) while Nikoly Dubrovin's initials are НД (ND). I believe this is one of the "mistakes" in Postnikova irresspective of. Dubrovin's second name being Lukitch with Л (L).



The maker Vasily Semenov Cyrillic BC 1852-1873 compared with Dubrovin's working period 1822-1855----yes it fits.

Fineness 84 zolotnik i.e. 875/1000.

The outlook of the tongs is a bit odd being Russian, but...? Right or wrong but that was my opinion.

[Smokanabeach]

Thanks for jour answer ;-) again! ;-)

My problem was i could'nt determine if this sugar tong was authentical: that is why i asked if maker and assayer could correspond to the date 1933 hallmarked; other thing was the cupid: does it correspond to a typical style period? I found it has a precious style with both thé cupid engraved and the silver-guilt, that why I was doubting on a potential 'counter-fact'...

At all, i was proud to share this item which is the oldest of my personnal collection... And even if it is a fake, it will be the oldest fais that i got! ;-)