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This could be an example of Holland silver during the Napoleonic Occupation (1807-1812) because I think the bird with outstretched wings might be the city mark for Deventer, but there is no Cartouche :::: Is it an older city mark for Deventer? :::: The maker's mark seems to be [W.S.P] but there is a...

What is the purpose of this object? :::

I wanted so bad to make it Swedish because of the form. :::: But I had never seen a "double-makers-mark" from Sweden before without any additional marks so I wasn't sure if that was extremely uncommon or whatever. :::: The light zig-zag marks I have never seen before, maybe an assay master...

I've noted this form from Sweden ::: Are all those zig-zag marks "tremolstitch" (however you spell that word) like the zig-zag marks that are commonly seen on pieces from Germany taken by the silver assay masters? ::: Not sure what to make of that, usually you see one or two zig-zag lines....

Is it Prussia? ::: Something from modern-day Poland? :::

Is this a mustard spoon? :::: The form seems a little unusual for a mustard spoon. :::::

I'm coming up with a wrought-metal company ::: But interestingly there is a "Casa Tucan" hotel in Mexico as well as Costa Rica. :::
::: I wonder if this is hotel-related in some way, like something a hotel would provide for its most distinguished guests? ::::

Are you absolutely sure this is sterling (or French 950 standard) silver? :: I've had French lighters with a maker's mark in a diamond-shaped cartouche similar to this example and they were silver-plated or gold-plated. ::::

It could be a retail mark and not necessarily a maker's mark :::::

Back in 1980 the price of silver suddenly rose to almost 50 dollars per ounce due to the Hunt Brother's attempt to corner the silver market. ::: There was a lot of theft of sterling silver at this time. :::: People were advised to scratch numbers or initials so that the silver might be able to be id...

I wasn't even sure that this was from 1911 or not. ::::

There's a category of silver from the Kutch region of India which some people specialize in "Kutch India Silver" and this form reminds me of objects from that region. ::::

Very interesting contrast between the handle and blade. :::: I love these pieces marked only "STERLING" and sometimes I see the same "STERLING" stamp used again and again which I call "The Square Sterling Stamp" because each letter in the word "STERLING" has b...

What type of hallmark is that on the handle of the first spoon? ::: It looks like a circle with a head inside it, is that technically a kokoshnik mark or is it some other kind of mark? ::: Interesting that the other spoon also has a hallmark of a head, although the cartouche is more angular and squa...

There is a "pseudo hallmark" quality about the hallmarks, as if the silversmith wanted the hallmarks to just barely pass a visual test. ::: Could be made by a silversmith who was a "duty-dodger" and applied pseudo-hallmarks. :::: I have heard of a book on "West Country Provi...

The outlines of the hallmarks are a distinct "wavy-line" pattern that I have seen in pictures of Norfolk silver (assayed in Norwich). ::::: The assay office was closed in 1701 and the silver is quite rare, I have only seen pictures of spoons in museums or auction houses. :::: I wonder what...

This spoon seems to have been cast, a more expensive process, I can't recall the last time I saw a Russian silver spoon which had been cast ::: If I had to guess just based on the pictures, I see more of a German "Rococo Revival" tradition in this particular spoon. :::: I'm willing to be o...

I found "Patent Pending" on a gumbo spoon with an unusually long handle and it is a very difficult stamp to find. ::: I am wondering if the "Patent Pending" stamp on Versailles flatware is the very first stamp on the very first pieces ::: I've heard rumors of a comprehensive arti...

It's interesting that Blair works for Arthur Stone for such a short period of time. ::: What did Blair do after he left Arthur Stone? :::: It's just interesting that someone who has such immense talent in the silversmithing art would then suddenly shift to another occupation entirely. ::: Thanks. :::

Looks like Norway to my eyes. ::: The hallmark with the cursive initials seems to be the maker's mark. ::::