www.925-1000.com

Hi,
It was made by Armenian silvermiths in Van.
Regards

... cannot be found with later hallmarks. Many silversmiths migrated from Van region in Kurdistan (the similarity of this cigarette case to Ottoman examples). Your box,as well as many niello and cloisonne items were made shortly after ...

It reads وان which transliterates as van

فان transliterates as fan.

Damon

Hi,
This is the mark used by Armenian silversmiths in Van province, seen on niello.
Town`s name VAN is in Arabic used in Ottoman Empire before the reform.
Fineness .900 is incorporated within town`s name (90 in Arabic).
Regards

Only the traces of niello have remained.It depicts the coat of arms of Ottoman Empire. Sultans had tughra and coat of arms in western heraldic sense ... created in the late 19th century. You can search for more examples of ``van niello cigarette cases`` Armenian masters signed in Arabic.Most of them, ...

Hi, Welcome to the forum. The mark in the middle stands for ``VAN``, town in eastern Turkey (Kurdistan).In Ottoman Empire. The silver was made mostly by Armenian masters. Take a look here for the same ...

... to identify the maker with this info? They used Arabic letters in Ottoman Empire.Many of them moved to Yerevan after the genocide and continued to work. Compare cigarette case bellow with Ottoman postage ...

Niello cigarette case is very similar to decor popular with Armenian silversmiths in Ottoman Empire (Van region).
Some of them were lucky to escape genocide and settled in Yerevan.

Hello Its Ottoman Turkish made in Van in eastern anatolia The top mark of the two marks in the last photo is rubbed but probably says 'Van' in the ...

Hi,
Does not look very sophisticated. Poor craftsmanship. Much, much better niello was made in Ottoman Empire by Armenian masters in Van province, and elsewhere (Persia,India, North Africa, Balkans) and let alone in Russia.
IMO, avoid this beaker.
Regards

... on the list of Armenian crafman mostly silversmiths and goldsmiths in Van, there were more than100 armenian workshops in the city before 1915, ... is disappeared with sad events in1915 , the work of artist stamps with ottoman markes and their initials are around the world and very anknown to ...

... – 2005 - Osep Tokat This complete volume focuses on the hidden world of Van City of Eastern Turkey and gifted Armenian silversmiths who populated the Ottoman Empire. Most of their work was centered in the region of Van, which is the focus on ...

... inisiales the one who made it) there was Tigran Avagian silversmith in Van, could be his work Van is one of Western Armenian cites, unther the ottoman empire, my grandfahers was born there , had more than 100 silversmiths and jewellers ...

Very interesting. I ought to have recognized as I do have another item with the Van castle as motive.
I have tried to capture the hallmark.


Its difficult, but thanks for the identification of location.

Hi,
I am glad MG has solved the mystery. Niello master silversmiths in Van were Armenians.
Based on the postage stamp depicted here it was made in late 19th or early 20th century.
Regards

Hello
The top stamped mark consists of the arabic letters for VAN which is a city in the far east of Turkey and many nielloed items originated from there. Ottoman Turkey used the arabic Alphabet
I can't read the bottom mark.
Thank you

Well that could make sence.
x

That would explain the minarets that proberly would not be in Byzans before the ottoman conquerst.
I had not seen that cup before.
If its Van - I have to visit it - as I have the souvenier :-)

... marks. from what you say I presume the cup was made after the ottoman empire. would you agree that the script mark is Van? without a silver mark I am presuming it is silver due to its high level of craftsmanship. ...

The Ottoman script on the base reads - Van - a city in eastern Turkey.

Prior to WWI it had a sizeable Armenian population.

I am sure the other stamp with non Roman letters is Armenian.

Don't understand the inscriptions on the side of the vessel.

Damon

This is Van, a city in eastern Turkey. Ottoman Turkish script is much like Arabic. The other script is likely Armenian. Van had a significant Armenian population in the 1800s.

Regards

Damon