3 mark Salt Cellar: Lion, ?O., crossed keys

[wpw]

From reading your site I conclude that this must be plate instead of sterling as there are not enough marks for sterling. The marks are on the bottom of the cellar. The lion looks like a London lion to my novice eye. I cannot make out the letter in front of the O. in the second mark. The third seems to be crossed keys. Can someone explain what these 3 marks are?
Here are two images:
Marks
http://www.salemsattic.com/commerce/misc/SaltCellarMarks.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )

Item


Thanks.

[oel]

Hi welcome to the forum.
Those three marks, I believe, are registered as unknown silver plate marks.

Oel

[wpw]

Thanks Oel.

[mmary]

That footed salt is a product of the Victor Obler Co of NY. I have an undated catalog entitled Authentic Reproductions of Old Sheffield Plate and Antique Silver on Copper. This salt is pictured in this catalog as having a blue glass lining. The mark used by the company was printed on the title page

[dognose]

Hi Mmary,

Many thanks for solving this long standing mystery. Does your catalogue indicate if any of Victor Obler's production was made in sterling, or did they just produce plated products? Also, I know you have stated that the catalogue is undated, but roughly what timeline would you put on it?

Trev.

[mmary]

Hi-
Just to the right of the photo I posted with the trademark is an ink stamp that reads: Our New Address: 417 East 76th St New York Phone Regent 4-3192
Perhaps if anyone has access to old New York phone books they could help to narrow down the timeline.
Since the items in the catalog are all reproductions of antique styles I cannot go by silver design - I would guess it dates from the 1930's - 1940's. The illustrations are engravings. They do not mention sterling - I believe they only made silverplate. The salt in the original post (with a blue lining) is shown with a retail price of either $3.90 or $3.50 depending on which size it is. Hope this helps.

[dognose]

I'm sure it helps a lot. Hopefully now someone can narrow down the timeline.

Thanks again.

Trev.

[silverly]

Victor Obler plater and silversmith immigrated to New York in 1925. His petition for naturalization states that his nationality was Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and his last foreign residence was Cuba. I'd say it would be safe consider his company second quarter twentieth century.

[dognose]

That's great Pat, many thanks.

Trev.

[silverly]

There's also a snippet view on google from House Beautiful Volume 99, Part 2 1957 that mentions THE OBLER CO. Dept. hb-7 417 East 76 Street. New York 21, NY, so mid twentieth century would also work.

[mmary]

I had previously posted the photo of the company trademark from a Victor Obler catalog and had stated that it only contained plated items and there was no mention of sterling production. I just noticed that there ARE a few sterling silver items included in this catalog: a 3"x3.5" shell shaped dish, kidney-shaped and crescent-shaped bottle labels [but with plated chains] and a salt spoon. None of the larger or related items [such as the open salts themselves] in this catalog are sterling.
My apologies for overlooking this earlier.

[dognose]

Hi mmary,

Many thanks for taking the time to update the information, it's very much appreciated.

Is there any possibility of seeing some more images from this catalogue?

Trev.

[mmary]

I no longer have a website that I can use to host photos. Is there another way to upload photos to the forum?

[dognose]

Trev.