Worn hallmarks identification - Augsburg 18c ?

[dinio]

Hello,

This is my first message on this forum and of course I will be asking for help in identifying hallmarks.

I have recently bought a silver box which is rather big and heavy ( 13*9*3 cm and 290 grams ) because I thought that the style and the hallmarks was referring to the 18th century.
After some research I have not found the origin of this box in my documentation. But I still think that it is from 18c and looking at the german section of this site, I think that it could be from Augsburg. But the hallmarks are rather worn and it is not easy to make the identification.

Could somebody help me and validate my assumptions, or give me hints on the origin of this box ?

I attach 2 images showing the box, 1 showing the 3 hallmarks which are located underneath the box, and 3 images showing another view of each hallmark.

Thanks in advance
Dinio





http://dinio.free.fr/Silver/Box1/Images/Hallmarks.jpg

[Bahner]

Hello, this is far from being an authentic old Augsburg piece. The dancing putti show the style of around 1900. This is surely from Hanau, the marks are pseudo marks. My guess: maker is Schleissner. Best wishes, Bahner

[dinio]

Hello Bahner,
Thank you so much for the information provided; it is so useful and informative.
On one hand, I knew the use of pseudo marks by silversmiths from Hanau starting late 19c but I did not knew they were also copying old german marks - only foreign ones I thought. Is there any catalog or book referencing these pseudo marks just to be sure of the Hanau silversmith who made this item ?

On the other hand, I was pretty sure that putti were represented on 18c items (not as often as cherubs of course). Is it the fact that they are dancing which leads you to your conclusion ?

Thanks again for sharing your expertise.

Dinio

[blakstone]

The best list of Hanau pseudo-marks is probably Wolfgang Scheffler’s “Goldschmiede Hessens” but it’s out of print and monstrously expensive. Taking off where Scheffler ended, I’ve been cataloguing and cross-referencing Hanau peusdo marks for a few years now and I’ve discovered many new ones not listed there and a few (in my opinion) errors.

The marks you have are most frequently found on items with the trademark of the Hanau firm of Storck & Sinsheimer, founded 1874 by Jakob Stork & Louis Sinsheimer, manufacturers of modern and antique style silverware, and still listed 1926. These same marks I have seen once on an item by another Hanau firm, Wilhelm Weinranck, but I believe that the marks are properly attribued to Storck & Sinsheimer.

[dinio]

Hello Blackstone,

Thanks for the information which is very accurate and knowledgeable.

Have you ever thought about setting up a website with pictures of these Hanau pseudo marks ? It is so common to find items with them and I do not find many resources on the web to identify them. The only link I found providing pictures of these marks is at http://www.ascasonline.org/articolox15.html and there are only a couple of them.

Another question: reading carefully your answer I can understand that Hanau production is found with a trademark on each silver item. Is it the case with my box ? Which one of the three marks is the trademark (there are no more marks on the box) ?

Thanks again for the valuable help of the forum members.
Dinio