www.925-1000.com

AG2012 - if this is a real Russian cross, wouldn't you expect it to be a 3 bar cross? Also, typical to have "protect and save" (спаси и сохранить) on the back of the cross and nothing on the front? I suppose, unless it was made for decorations and not a religious object. What do you think?

Hi Aguest - I can't speak to the elastic straps in the case. I don't know if my great grandfather used the case every day or if he received it as a gift and simply held on to it. The worn off gold plating in most places seems to indicate it was used or at least carried around a lot. I will see if I ...

Hi AG201 - thanks for the reply. I think you are right...it's unlikely that Jenö Reiss is the maker, but the mark looks very similar and Vienna is only about 350 miles from Warsaw so I though it's a possibility. But then I started thinking more and now I have another question about the piece. Clearl...

Hi everyone - I was doing some searching on my own and found this company REISS, JENÖ that was around during the turn of the century. Their makers mark can be seen in the link below. They are from Austria, but I guess, during this timeframe, having something sold by a jeweler in Warsaw that came fro...

Thanks AG2012. I will see if I can clean it up more or get a better photo, but even in person it's very difficult to tell if it says "JR" or "JB" or "JP"

I tried getting some better photos of the hallmarks....some are better than others. As always, all comments and insights are really appreciated. https://i.imgur.com/DY7ErSM.jpg https://i.imgur.com/bFHj8LI.jpg https://i.imgur.com/HF11frB.jpg https://i.imgur.com/GoJPRZW.jpg https://i.imgur.com/r1boJJu...

Hi AG2012 - Great information, and it answers the question of the crest on the case....it's the officer's badge for the regiment.

Hi Qrt.S - I will do what I can to clean the hallmarks and get good photos. With regards to the reference to the Austrian government - I can shed some light. The inscription that says, "Austrian Emperor's regiment" does not mean that the regiment was commanded by an Austrian Emperor. Back ...

Hello everyone, and thanks for looking at this piece for me as well. I have some more photos, but none that are really clear of the hallmarks. I am getting the piece, cleaning it and I will post photos once I have better quality pictures. In the meantime, I am including what photos I already have. S...

I have a gold cigarette case from around 1900. I know this is a silver forum so can anyone recommend where I can get some insights into this piece? I have other photos, but I will only post if it's OK to discuss this item in this forum. Thanks https://i.imgur.com/A7cu7G2.jpg https://i.imgur.com/dtKt...

Excellent - thank you for the help!

Hi AG2012 - Brilliant! Thanks for the insights. I looked at the icon 100 times and never saw those marks. New photos are below. Now you can clearly see the makers mark as "A.K" and the Moscow city mark is also very clear in the other photo. Any ideas who "A.K" is? A quick search ...

Hello - I recently inherited an icon from my father. This icon was given as a wedding gift to his parents (my grandparents) in 1930, which is a traditional gift in the Russian Orthodox faith. My grandparents were married in NYC but the icon came with my great grandparents when they were immigrating ...

Hello solo - VERY INTERESTING! The markings, or lack of them, seem identical to mine. And the design on the shotglass also looks of the same quality. Do you have any details on your piece? I would appreciate any information you have.

Hi Qrt.S - yes, a lot has been written and as I've said many times, it's all appreciated. However, I still don't understand why someone who wants to "destroy" a piece of art does it as delicately as erasing one of three marks while leaving the others intact. I would expect that they were m...

@Qrt.S - Of course you are correct....no possibility can be excluded. The answers you and the others have provided have already helped more than I expected and it has started a dialog within my family that is most interesting. So again, thank you. I can confirm my family remembers the shot glass. It...

@Qrt.S - I can confirm that the shot glass was a gift to my grandfather from a very close family friend in Russia. This is why it survives to this day, and was not sold even in the difficult first years in America. My grandfather would only use the shot glass for special toasts, on special occasions...

@Qrt.S and AG2012 - thanks for the further details and clarification. I will ask about the name - maybe it is a family friend. I know at least the last four generations we are all Orthodox Christian so it's not a family member - at least not a direct one. Maybe some of my relatives have more details...

Hi Goldstein - I was too fast with my last reply....I guess by "skeletonizing", you mean cutting away from the piece. You have a very good eye - I didn't notice all these imperfections. The cuts seem to match well with the engraving. Thank you again for the insights.

Hi Qrt.S - thanks for the valuable information / translation. As far as I know, there are no doctors in my family so maybe this is simply a silver item purchased at some point for either it's value or its looks. I am asking relatives now if they know the name on the item as well.... @Goldstein, than...