Search found 329 matches

by Doos
Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:04 am
Forum: Far East
Topic: Who made this piece Looks OLD Initials HSN ?bracelet?
Replies: 9
Views: 8274

Hi, The page says that it was not until 1930 that initials were used on a regular basis to indicate the maker. There is also a remark that, sometimes, the successor of a shop simply put an extra letter behind the initial. If the latter is the case then it is made by the successor of Harto Suharjo an...
by Doos
Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:50 pm
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXIX.
Replies: 14
Views: 8983

Hi,

Never would have guessed that.
It has a nice cut-card ornamentation.
.
by Doos
Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:45 pm
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXIX.
Replies: 14
Views: 8983

Hi,

Maybe to pass things along on the table? Instead of reaching for the salt.
.
by Doos
Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:55 pm
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXIX.
Replies: 14
Views: 8983

Hi,

One of my first impressions was a pancake (crepe) flipper, but I couldn't imagine that being a dish in the 18th century. Not sure why not.
.
by Doos
Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:19 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXIX.
Replies: 14
Views: 8983

Hi,

I was thinking of a tongue spatula/depressor but it is a bit large for that.
Maybe a spanking bat for rich kids.
.
by Doos
Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:35 pm
Forum: Silverplate Trademarks - Worldwide
Topic: WMF special extra marks - Star and 7/D
Replies: 6
Views: 4408

Hi,

See http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_W.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
The style is Art Nouveau (around 1900).
by Doos
Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:04 pm
Forum: Contributors' Notes
Topic: Gorham at the Centennial Exhibition 1876
Replies: 6
Views: 6669

Hi,

There are some folds in the paper and it browned a bit, but I wouldn't call that ugly.
.
by Doos
Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:01 am
Forum: German Silver
Topic: Help with German swan mark plez
Replies: 4
Views: 3600

Hi,

It is not so confusing. The clock was made in Germany (or atleast the case) and remarked in France.
by Doos
Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:46 am
Forum: German Silver
Topic: Help with German swan mark plez
Replies: 4
Views: 3600

Hi,

It looks very much as the one in this thread, it's a French import mark on watches. It was also struck on items that were in public sale (an auction I presume). Used from 1893 till ca. 1970 (see Tardy).
by Doos
Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:08 am
Forum: Silver Jewelry - Single Image
Topic: Another unknown mark.
Replies: 2
Views: 4151

Hi,

It's the Dutch mark for 835/000 struck on smaller items. Used since 1953.
by Doos
Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:39 am
Forum: Silver Care / Techniques
Topic: Gold and silver testing methods
Replies: 11
Views: 18947

Hi, According to Galileo, Archimedes must have faced the same problem. Without a well calibrated container that will be almost impossible, hence Galileo thought Archimedes used a balance instead of a bucket of water. Using a pycnometer is a more precise way to do what you are trying to do. I would u...
by Doos
Tue Jan 01, 2008 7:03 am
Forum: Silver Care / Techniques
Topic: Gold and silver testing methods
Replies: 11
Views: 18947

Hi,

You need to do hydrostatic weighing, once in air and then immersed in water.
Then calculate the specific gravity: SG = weight in air/weight in air - weight in water.
.
by Doos
Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:48 pm
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXVII.
Replies: 8
Views: 4859

Hi,

They are not real seals as the outer seals were not unique to a specific broker.
The main goal of the stick was to show it to the customer, just like a police officer has to show his/her badge.
.
by Doos
Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:59 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Naked Lady - Unknown Hallmarks on French Matchsafe
Replies: 4
Views: 4539

Hi, The hallmarking rules in France are very complex with regard to the placement of the marks. There are dozens of pages, in French, to go through to get some idea. I think the boar's head (see: French Hallmarks ) was stamped twice to indicate that the item was made from 2 main parts. The triangle ...
by Doos
Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:45 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXVII.
Replies: 8
Views: 4859

Hi,

The length is typically around 12.5 cm (11-13).
Maybe "baton" is not the luckiest translation for "makelaars stokje" which literally means "broker's stick".
.
by Doos
Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:03 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXVII.
Replies: 8
Views: 4859

Hi, This may be a bit too difficult as they were used only in Amsterdam. They are broker's batons used by members of the brokers guilde to identify themselves as bona fide members. The tradition started in the mid 17th century and lasted till the mid 19th century. Today some real estate agents have ...
by Doos
Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:42 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Naked Lady - Unknown Hallmarks on French Matchsafe
Replies: 4
Views: 4539

Hi,

It is French Art Nouveau (ca.1900) and with a .800 purity.
by Doos
Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:47 pm
Forum: Dutch Silver
Topic: halmarks on silver tablet (?)
Replies: 5
Views: 6825

Hi,

The crowned 74 stands for 1774, the crowned hand for Antwerp and the middle mark is probably the maker.
Images are similar to those picyured in "Edel smeedkunst in Belgie" - Piet Beaudouin et al. 1988.

Phone number follows in PM.
.
by Doos
Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:17 pm
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXVII.
Replies: 8
Views: 4859

Hi,

They are seals of some kind, but these were for a very specific goal.
.
by Doos
Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:38 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: What-is-it question LXXXVII.
Replies: 8
Views: 4859

What-is-it question LXXXVII.

Hi,

What were these used for?
It is a very local.

Image
.

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