German sauceboat - help with unknown marks

[Ubaranda]

Hi all!
I have nice German sauceboat but I don't know who is the maker and what are two small marks: "U under crown" and "R in circle". Maybe Hanau?
Thanks in advance.

[huszas76]

Hello!
The "U with the crown" is the hallmark in Romania bitween 1937-1949 for 750‰. The U was some of the Romanian assay region.
The R was an "occupation mark" as you can read here:
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34902
Best Regards!
Krisztián

[Ubaranda]

Hi Krisztián!
Many thanks for your quick response! But I have new question - if the sauceboat was made of silver 750 in Romania, why it has German mark 800?
Best regards. Alex.

[huszas76]

Hello Alex!
I just answered your hallmark question, but I don't think, that your item was made in Romania in the 40's.
I think, it was just remarked in Romania. And maybe someone in the assay office thought, that's better to punch the 750 fineness then 800. Don't ask me the reason, I don't know why! :)
So I think your item is rather german, and older, then the romanian marks shows. Maybe someone else can help you more!
Best regards!
Krisztián

[oel]

Hi,

Yes, it could well be that the Romanian Assay office, and their way of testing procedures and used silver standards in Romania guaranteed overall minimum 750 fineness but the German retailer who done his own testing (limited testing) found it to be 800 minimum. The German crescent moon and crown is applied by the maker/retailer or German importer and guarantees overall minimum 800 fineness.
For example when the Netherlands revised their hallmarks in 1953, a problem arose of what to with finished goods, both domestic and foreign, that were already circulating in the trade and sometimes referred to as used objects. As complete assaying procedures could damage a finished item a new set of marks was initiated for use on silver items that had undergone a limited assay. However limited assay sometimes could down grade the older, earlier or foreign applied hallmarks, I have seen British sterling (925) items with a full set of British hallmarks, imported in the Netherlands, after limited assay, stamped with the Dutch ZII mark minimum 835 fineness. I believe the reason could be if the assayer goes for the highest or 1st standard and conducts a few limited assays on the same object, if one of those test fails, the object is down graded and tested for 2nd minimum standard. If the assayer is in doubt and pressed by time, better safe than sorry, a down grade will follow.


Oel.

[Ubaranda]

Hi Krisztián, hi Oel!
Thank you both for your help.
I think that Krisztián is right - the sauceboat was made in Germany in the beginning 20th century and in
1940s was remarked in Romania.
Best regards! Alex.