www.925-1000.com

1/20-12k GF means that 1/20th of the thickness is an outer layer of 12kt gold. The metal is processed by soldering a thin sheet of gold atop a thicker sheet of (usually) brass in the ratio the article has been marked. Then the metal is rolled to the desired thickness. The two metals stretch at the s...

A lot depends on where you live.
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Bob, I picked this up in a lot yesterday, it is the exact mirror of your pin, right doen to the drag lines inside the curves from polishing. Made in Tasco, by G-129. http://thumb18.webshots.net/t/69/569/8/74/38/2843874380103856578BZSxAu_th.jpg http://thumb18.webshots.net/t/50/750/1/8/32/261410832010...

I would guess the top was cigarettes, the bottom for matches. However of the top was matches. If the top was matches, maybe the bottom was for ash, since with matches one would not need tinder.
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I have to agree with Trev, the stamps do appear very spurious at best. The outlines should be much crisper and regular, they all look very crudely made, especially the date stamp. Punches that were that badly damaged would have been retired and new punches would have been used, especially ones where...

is the finial a replacement or severely damaged? It does not appear to match the quality of all below it.

It is a gragger (noise-maker)and whistle used during Purim. Interesting to see one made in the States, most during that period would have been made in eastern Europe.
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it sounds like salt-bloom from salt being stored in them. Over time the salt absorbs moisture and leeches the copper from the alloy forming a hard crusty deposit. I would immerse the item in hot water and let it soak a bit (I have even boiled pieces to remove the scale). If not vinagar may disolve i...

The mark appears to be for Geissler, Inc of NYC. who were in business from the late 1800's through at least the mid 1920's. The USA stamp would be used on good made for export, so I would suspect it was made after WWI, possibly in the early 20's.
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Actually synthetic ruby has been used in jewelry since 1891. Auguste Verneuil perfected the flame fusion method that year, and synthetic rubies have been popular ever since. Your American (the C encircling the crown may be a Canadian mark, the LC stamp would be the makers mark, but it is not listed ...

The marks appear Middle Eastern. The stones could be citrine, padparadscha sapphire, or possibly yellow topaz. A good gemologist could descern the difference in person.
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They do appear to have been altered, the edging around the inside of the heel has been removed in item 2. The forms they are trying to replicate are, #2 an olive fork and #3 a lemon fork. I have seen roeks similar to #1 labled as potato or sausage servers.
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It appears to be set with eilatstone (chrysocolla, azurite and malachite, where the chrysocolla adds a certain degree of hardness to the otherwise softer minetals). It was very popular in the late Victorian period and through the 1920's. The upper 2 stones appear to be the more common form of mixed ...

This box appears to be a "one-of", maybe made-to-order for a client. The metal used for the lids ppears to be reused from something larger, and the interior panel is only soldered at the corners. As a pill-box it fails in that the lids do not have a lip, this is needed to keep moisture out...

We use almost that same piece as a crumber. But it would be good for serving thick pudding or possibly iced creme.
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As pictures it looks like a hunting horn used to signal when the pack is on scent and in full chase. While the horn is used to signal to the dogs, though it also lets mounted followers and stragglers, know the direction to the pack. The hole near the end allows for changes in the sound.
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If you number them 1-6 from left to right, 3+1 makes a larger panel, 4+2 make the second image panel and 6+5 make the third, in those orders. Using the near-far-near classical arrangement, 6+5 would be to the far left, followed by 3+1, with 4+2 on the right, though having a figure extend out of the ...

A mead cup? At least 4 corners allow you to chose a clean place to drink.
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Unsure on the mark, but the design is a classic Italian theme, though the panels are out of order.

The cap is to cover the alcohol lamp which heated the iron. It would have been easier if they had shown it with a wick in place.
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