1910 E.T. "800" ?? W. Mahnke (Spoon) Help Please

[SpiderGirl]

I have a large table spoon I need help identifying please.

ET in the design on the handle.
E.T. 1910 on the backside as well as...
800 (unidentifiable mark) W. Mahnke

It's silver plated.

Trying to make a proper identification of the origin, year, maker, etc.

Help appreciated.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k88/u ... T%20Spoon/

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Why do you think it's silver-plated? To me it appears to be German made silver of 800/1000 standard.

I believe there was a firm by the name of Mahnke working in Hamburg. Hopefully one of our German members can tell us more.

Trev.

[SpiderGirl]

Thanks for that. I sold a bunch of silver spoons previously and the guy wouldn't take it; said it was plated. But the more I look at it, the more I find its unique qualities intriguing and I'd like to know more.

[Joerg]

Hi SpiderGirl

As Trev pointed out it is German 800 Silver. You can recognize the two marks in the middle as the half moon and crown which were and still are the German hallmark for silver items with a purity of 800 (80% silver) or more.

I googeled W. Mahnke and spoons bearing that name can be found on various internet auction platforms. They date also around 1900. It seems W. Mahnke is not a manufacturer but a retailer.

Anyway, you have a nice, German, hand engraved spoon, dated 1910. Probably a baptism present.

Kind regards

Jörg

[dognose]

There is a reference to Mahnke as a manufacturer in this post: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=19040&p=43453&hilit=mahnke#p43453

Of course, it may be another of the same name.

Trev.