A silent butler. Used not to store ashtrays, but rather to empty the ashtrays into. With smoking on the wane I have seen these used for bon-bon dishes. They were popular in the US between the 1920s and 1960s. Judhael .
Hello there, Just a thought. In the 20s/30s there were popular console or center bowls with a removable pierced lid. The lid was usually set on a shallow bowl with an everted rim (a wide down-flaring rim), the bowl alone could be used for fruit, bread etc, but it's pierced (and often gilded) lid gav...
I have seen several small funnels of this type. They usually accompany decanters in the bar of estates I have purchased. Used for filling any decanter or flask (some wine funnels have a curved end to the tube), cruet bottles would be another use, claret jugs...you name it. Think of the large serving...
A base for a glass bowl, usually with a ruffled rim and often called a "brides basket". The glass would have a shallow rim foot that would sit in the ring. This configuration could be used as a console bowl or center bowl. Often accompanied by candlesticks. Judhael .
Hello there, You are still in the ballpark. Once you serve yourself the caviar you must have a spreader to smear the stuff across crackers or whatever. I believe you are still in the Caviar realm, but as a spreader it could be used at the whim of the owner. Butter for bread with your turtle soup? Ju...
Hello there, Based on the size of the spoon it is one of several objects. From the looks of it the piece is probably about 5 1/2 inches long. If so, it is a nut spoon or petit-fours server (or bon bon server). If it is larger it belongs to another category all together. It would be considered a past...
Hey, Well there we go again. I was unaware of Hanau silver, and the site administrator moved the bowl from the French forum to the German forum on his/her own volition due to "a feeling"...well, your feeling looks to be correct. The goblet hallmark on my piece is the same goblet mark shown...
Hello Kerppola! I tend to agree at this point. The bowls quality is without question, the marks are the bugaboo. I thought this to be French at first and posted it in that section of this forum, but the site administrator, with wisdom he/she is not yet sharing, moved it to the German section. This s...
Hey Byron Mac Donald & Hose DK! Thanks for the notes guys. The cup is definitely silver, I have polished it a time or two in the 15 or so years that I have owned it. I have browsed every hallmarks book I could get my hands on and have not gotten close. I'm pretty sure it's late 17th to early 18t...
Hello again, Well here is a silver thistle cup that I believe to be Spanish Colonial based on the engraved initials "PC" and the band at the top...it just has that feel. The marks are an "R" with a pellet above and a very nicely detailed tree. There is a 2nd look at the tree on t...
OK, so I was in a hurry last night trying to get this bowl listed for response and I'll admit my pics are not the best. Here is another shot of the side of the bowl in natural light. I have "pointed out" the hallmarks. Below that is another shot of the marks, and hopefully a better one tha...
Hello, I recently picked up a low chalice or small pedestal bowl that has repouse chased decoration depicting 2 angels and one "human" amidst flowers and foliage that is very 1690s looking. The bowl is small, a mere 4 1/4 inches in dia. by 3 1/2 inches high. There are 3 marks just below th...
Gents! I think we have a match! The marks on the extreme right of the site administrators photos are an almost identical match...and if I squint just right I can imagine the M below that somewhat unusual central motif (a helm?) Then 2209 Patrick chimes in with another example of the mark more clearl...
Thank you Hada, I have been suspecting that this might not be Mideastern since posting it here. I may move this posting to the European site to see what, if anything, it may garner there. The hallmark looks suspiciously like Colonial Spanish marks of Mexico. It has the Crowned Columns but lacks the ...
Howdy, Below is a pic of the bowl. Raised and repousee chased to depict different flowers in the diamond-shaped reserve panels. Fully gilded inside. The mark is inside the upper rim. There is a mark that looks like the letter "V" and a square mark that looks like an arched coronet (crown) ...