What passes for a Thai hallmarks?

[fatso]

The above tea caddy has been a gift from a western company based in Thailand to a westerner.
So at least it is claimed at the bottom of it.
So it would be obtained from a reputable local silversmith, I presume.
Also, there is a statement: made in Siam sterling- as demonstrated above.
The object is beautiful, undoubtedly silver but no sign of the artisan to be spied anywhere, the one who has executed this objet d'art.

Am I to treat the sign: -made in Siam sterling- as the official national hallmark?

[admin]

Official or unofficial, I cannot answer, but it is typical of Thai marks from the first half of the 20th c.

Outside of a very few European countries, most silver produced throughout history, was marked as the silversmith saw fit. If you collect in areas outside of British, Dutch, French or the like, where legislated marking was stringently observed, you learn to do without the reassurance that a cleanly stamped set of marks can give. Although annoying to the orderly minded, it is probably a good thing, as it forces appreciation on the merits of the piece alone.

Regards, Tom

[fatso]

True, how very true. However there is a flip side to this coin, namely
the fact that those "orderly minds" will stand shy of the valuable silver
objet d'art suspecting a fake or some sort of mass produced silver plate
flogged to the unweary. The State's seal of approval might go a long way
to alleviate those fears

[byron mac donald]

Hello Fatso-

Could you tell us what the whole context of the writing says? I see MacDon... so of course I am interested.

Regards- Byron B. MacDon...

[fatso]

It says: To Mr I.R.Macdonald from Shell Thailand.
Quite reassuring in the circumstances as you would not
expect the mighty Company to pass on the fake to the
Receipient. (admin edit)