www.925-1000.com

My hallmark appears only once in the catalogs, in 1892 for a souvenir spoon, while the other hallmarks appear regularly in ads and are even discussed in the Jewelers' Circular. I find this strange. Do you have any ideas when my hallmark was used? Would you say my bowl is from the 1890s? BTW, my hall...

Hi Cheryl,

I’ve been reading the small type on the interesting file you posted. Do you think this piece was made by the Howard Sterling Company rather than the Roger Williams Silver Co.? Any idea when? It could have been any time between 1898 and 1902. Do you agree?

Thanks,
Tamara

Thanks, Cheryl.

Does anyone recognize this mark. I'm assuming it's American. Thanks.

Finnegan, I wish you would show me a single similar tray. I found only one online, a round tray with a similar rim, and it is by an American silversmith named William de Matteo. If this tray and the one I just posted could be from Mexico, then they probably are. All my Western hemisphere, non-U.S., ...

Hi Aguest, Thanks for your posts. I like your choice of Mexico because it makes sense within the context of my silver. And your answer about the mistruck 9 is compelling too: the bottom of your 9 and mine match. However, all my other Mexican silver is stamped 925 or sterling, and none has this style...

Amena, I think I see what made you think there was a decimal point. But I checked, and there is none. Have you ever seen 0900 written with such a weird "9"?

Hi Amena,

I don't understand. There is no dot in this number. Does that make Italy a possible source?

Thanks,
Tamara

Hi, Actually, the silver fineness on this tray is 900, if it’s anything. I’m not trying to identify makers of unmarked silver, but only find an assay mark and perhaps country of origin. We know that only some countries had 900 silver purity. According to 925-1000.com, these countries are: U. S. coin...

I forgot to mention that there are no other marks on this silver tray. That's why I'm assuming (hoping) that this must be an assay mark. Does anyone agree? I have several silver items that do not have any marks at all, or have silver purity marks but no maker's marks. I'm not sure if they are Americ...

I'm wrong about Italy. I think it has 800 silver purity.

Is this a mark for 0900? There is no decimal point between the first and second zero and the "9" is not really a "9," if you want to be strict about it. (The mark to the left of this in the first hallmark photo is a gouged out fleck of silver, not another mark.) There may be one ...

HI Amena,

I’m going to write to the Italian assay office and see what they say about the hallmark.

Tamara

To expand the summary, here is legrandmogol, who entertains the possibility that these urns (and I guess the online bowl) are not fakes but early 19th century handmade pieces with hallmarks that resemble Croff’s but are actually town hallmarks. He sees workmanship in the pieces and intentionality in...

To summarize. Neither my piece nor the similar piece I found online is early 19th century, from Venice or Parma. Both have Croff’s hallmark (though the online seller doesn’t know this), but while my urns may be raised from one piece, the online seller’s is not. So that piece can’t be Croff. Mine may...

Hi AG2012,

I'm posting some additional photos of the bowl. Can you see soldering lines?

Tamara

Thanks, AG2012, for the explanation and video. I learned something new. I'm posting photos of a bowl and hallmark I found online that are similar to my urns and hallmark. The bowl has the same thin wavy edge, and thick magic-markerish fluting as my urns. And the hallmark is the same, and occurs in s...

HI AG2012, I'm not sure I understand. Was soldering used in the 18th century or not? You say vertical solder lines would indicate a more recent vintage, but solder lines between chalice and base are OK. Per the piece I saw online (I think you'll admit it was produced by the same silversmith as mine)...

Hi All, I found a bowl very similar to mine online and with the same hallmarks. I'll add the link here. (admin edit - see Posting Requirements ) Tamara BTW, is there some way to set up email notification for this site? I never know when someone responds to my posts. I tried emailing the administrato...

Hi Amena,

My camera can't do any better than this. It doesn't have macro focusing. And I'm not sure what you're looking for.
Tamara