I would hazard that the initials are spurious at best. Napoleon's cypher was a N surmounted with an imperial crown. Those initials do not fit well in their space which is at odds with most imperial items. Even as he was dying he requested that hhis headstone be marked with just Napoleon (like most k...
The standard process would be to engrave after plating. Some item, such as huge-run flatware for corporate clients, may have monogramming or corporate logo as part of the dies with which they are made or as a specialty stamping before plating. But this is rare and very obvious by the width of the st...
If I saw it without marks I would be looking to Russia first, mainly the Kiev area. the engraving reminds me of the prep for niello work, not really popular in England... though in that work the turquoise would be in separate rim that was applied with wires or small tube rivets. curiousner and curou...
It looks like a badly damaged half of an engraved, hinged bangle bracelet. length and width are about right, that end could be for the box catch, and I have seen them marked with partial marks on one half and full marks on the other.
Quite honestly, if I saw that mark I would put the item down and back away, quickly. I have my doubts about the Tiffany & co mark let alone the extra stamped in lettering. Clearly an item to avoid.
Thank you for the link. As a jeweler I can appreciate the workmanship that went into those pieces. I find them quite exquisite understanding the limitations of the time.
Cheryl - I added it to my list of things to do, too, LOL some day. I can shed light on your odd letters on footed and covered pieces from Towle. They are internal record marks, used by the silversmiths (I was one once) to keep pieces together when working multiple pieces of the same style. Feet, lid...
Hi Cheryl - That is an interesting idea, and sounds like a good paper to write. It could be an industry aberration worth studying. On the first example with the "A" and "J" the pattern is two companion pieces. One would expect the patterns to be sequential in their letters, or at...
They would not be engraver's marks as the engraving would have been done after it was finished and considered one piece. Moreover most companies would never allow their engravers to put a personal mark on a piece that was so crudely done.
Those appear polishing marks from someone who used a polish with too large a grit. a rouge cloth will usually remove them, just take time and be careful.