www.925-1000.com

I have 2 small dishes, 2 3/4" in diameter. Here are some photos.





The writing looks like it could be Middle Eastern, but I really don't know and hope I am posting this in the right section. Help much appreciated.
Best Wishes,
Mariann Katz

Egyptian 900/1000 silver, dating from 1906-46 (your marks are upside down).

Cheryl ;o)

http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheryl, thank you so much. I am fascinated to learn about these things. Does anyone know what these small plates or dishes were used for and what the Arabic writing says?

I have changed the orientation of the mark, so it is shown correctly now and you can clearly see it is a cat, something I missed before. Thanks, Cheryl!

Thanks to member Hoda who supplied the following information on my 2 small plates. "They are a typical Arabic design, which you find in Khan El Khalili ( a very very old area and very touristic) The exact literal translation is Patience is beautifull, in other words you tell those two words to someone who is very much in a hurry and you want to cool him down (hold in horses as an expression). I will write them in english alphabit for you to pronounce EL SABER GAMIL. As for the marks please refer to http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you will notice that your plates are prior 1946 as after this date the cat was replaced with the lotus sign."

The dishes are for sweetmeats, nuts, dates etc. The hallmark is .900 grade silver hallmarked in Cairo in 1931.

Thanks, Aviator, for the great info. I have printed it out and will place with the small plates. Now I know how to use them.