Need Help Identifying Maker of Sterling Tongs

[ronenros]

Hi,

I recently acquired these silver tongs with pierced work on the grips. The work is of ducks in flight with bullrushes in the foreground. Someone told me that they were WMF, but I tend not to believe him. They are stamped "Sterling" on the handle and have the same mystery mark stamped on the interior of each of the grips. I was hoping that someone might recognize the mark.

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Thanks!

Ron

[silverport]

Mysterie mark isn’t »WMF«

Hello Ron

The mysteries mark isn’t »WMF« - also isn’t “stamped”; it’s a sand cast mark, as the whole tongs. These marks are being very often already on the master model integrated — it’s a kind of economics: So it’s sure that »all« are marked, and the time for marking is spared.

The real struck mark is that of »STERLING« only - that was necessary, if these articles were of European origin, and be made for the export, from silver alloys of different fineness; but also for to prevent a hotchpotch in the warehouse.

Where the tongs are made? Every where, where sand cast cutlery is made.

I don’t know if this kind of production exists in North America or Canada? In Europe are in Hanau, Germany and in some places in The Netherlands are production centres of cutlery of this genre; but also in Italy too.

I know, that e.g. Roses and Baroque scenery are the main theme in Europe; and in the Netherlands are also usual maritime themes, and wind mills too.

Wild ducks soaring up, out of the lakes belt of reeds, is more a Nordic theme, a theme of hunting.

In North America it’s necessary to indicate the silver alloy only by the indication as »STERLING« or »925«. So I tend more to assume: It’s maybe not an export from Europe; but made in North America. If it were of Canadian origin, I guess there were additional markings?

Sorry, this maker’s mark I don’t know.

Kind regards silverport

[ronenros]

Thank you, Silverport! I also think that they are most likely of North American origin, but I can't be sure without identifying the mark. Hopefully, someone else will recognize it. I've had sand cast pieces made by Gorham, so I do know that sand casting was used in North America.

Thanks again for the input!

Ron