www.925-1000.com

I agree with Phil, there are quite a few examples of telescoping toasting forks. Inserting that into a container of brine could cause the hollow areas to flood; making it difficult or impossible to clean; and posing potential health hazards and corrosion.

The handled item is very rococo in style. what you are calling a base is mid-century modern, If intended to go together there would be stylistic similarities between the two pieces IE. a matching knurled band on the "base" to match the handled part. The "base" has far too small a...

I don't think they go together, they are stylistically so different; it is too tall to be stable; they don't appear to fit together very well, nor is there a solid connection joining them. The handled part is either a demitasse or tea cup which should have a glass liner. The remaining base looks to ...

I use tightly wound cotton wool on a bamboo skewer.

The sardine fork's tines are about half as long as that and is not pierced. A beef fork is the same length as an individual salad fork (they are actually the same handle) that is wider and pierced.

That appears to be a beef fork.

Thank you, Tom. That cured my log-in problems!

I had been thinking I messed something up with my computer!

Most I have melted assayed to 88-90% silver content. I understands it varies between 80-90% depending on materials available at the time and location.

The figure it the mascot of a company that produces cleaning products. It was a white container with her imprinted at the bottom of the label with "Dutch Made" under her feet. I thought it might be Bon Ami, but alas no. I will ferret out the product.

Happy Christmas and a Happy New ear to one and all.

Matchbox

The large stone is opal in matrix.

Dies are very expensive to make. First there is the hubbing die, which looks like the finished piece carved in a block of steel, it allows multiple dies to be made from it over time and the item is always the same one for the front, one for the back. The hub is hardened after it is perfect. This tak...

In die-stamped flatware forks the tines should all be level. in the die the tines are just a tapered rectangle of metal that is later punched to separate the tines. I would make little sense to have someone bend the outer tines as an additional step. I have never seen this in any of the never-used s...

To you and yours as well. Cheers!

Most likely cast, possibly some fine details added by chasing. Can't be certain without seeing the back under that material.

A pendant.

The mark looks OK. The style of the piece is typical of what they produced. All I can say from pictures. The M would only be on pieces made during Moore's tenure.

Don't forget: sand casters for the literal minded.