VASE

[melaniegwalters]

Small silverplated(?) vase approximately 4 7/8" tall and 2" in diameter at top and base. Has "mosaic" type painting which is partially worn off in areas.
Made for Tiffany & Co. Can't identify marks (may be partially rubbed off?) From left to right the markings appear to be: T O with the numbers 896 underneath, then 88, then a symbol I can't identify. Underneath those there is another symbol which looks like a donkey?

Can anyone tell me more about this vase (maker/date?) Thanks so much!


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[Qrt.S]

I must say that I have never ever seen an alike object with such marking: "Made for Tiffany&Co" on an Imperial Russian object ??? It is very confusing indeed. But, anyway, lets analyze the vase.

1) it's, as I already said, Russian
2) it's made in 1896 in Moscow. (city mark: riding St George to the right)
3) it's in almost sterling silver (88 zolotnik) 916/1000 silver
4) it's enameled, not painted, in a technique called cloisonnée
5) the assayer ЛО (Latin LO) is Lev Fedorovitch Oleks in Moscow
6) the maker is the lowest mark. Kindly tell me what it reads AK, AR or what?

I have my doubts...
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[dragonflywink]

Tiffany offered a fairly large selection of Russian silver in the late 19th-early 20th century period, I'll post a list on the Contributor's Notes forum in a few minutes.

~Cheryl
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[Postnikov]

Hi-

the vase looks genuin Russian enamel cloisonné, but the marks are faux in my opinion. Enamel is nearly always marked on the enamel surface - see the enclosed photos - to look if you can find some marks - but you have to clean the vase first (warm water+soap+toothbrush)!
Russian enamel artists exhibited in several important exhibitions (Paris, Chikago, etc) and had tremendous success. Tiffany is known for selling Russian silver and enamel at that time but the Tiffany stamp looks different







Regards
Postnikov
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[Qrt.S]

Hello,

Fine, my doubts seems to be verified by Postnikov. Moreover, my point was not that a Russian manufacture wouldn't have delivered goods to Tiffany but the to my mind strange marking.

I still cannot clearly read the maker's mark, can anybody make any good guesses of the maker's initials?
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[dognose]

Any help?

Trev.
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[Qrt.S]

Thank you Trev, but unfortunately no. I tried that myself with no result. If melaniegwalters took a good look through a magnifier and told us the two letters, or took a macro photo of the mark only, it might help. The problem is that the picture's density/resolution (72) is too low for a good magnification.
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[Postnikov]

Hi -
do not waste your time deciphering the mark - just look at the poor and antiparallel "MADE FOR TIFI ANY&C°"stamp, the typical uncomplete assay stamp, the unprecise "88" mark and the typical antlike,creepy St. George. The master´s mark is just ridiculous!
That is the quality you expect when you buy from Tiffany!!!

Regards
Postnikov
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