I need help with this marker, looked everywhere!!!!

[teccone]

I found a bunch of old silverware in my grandmas garage, she originally was from Boston. Im pretty sure its american, it has 1893 engraved in it as well as A.C, but its not Albert Coles, please help.

(admin photo edit - images too large - insert as link only - see Posting Requirements)

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88 ... ILA026.jpg

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww88 ... /spoon.jpg
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[teccone]

Is it possible that it could be Latvian, her family was originally from Latvia
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[teccone]

I think it may be A. Svyechin, what do you think???


http://www.925-1000.com/Frussia_assay_01.html
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[Postnikov]

Hi -

what you have is a Russian silver spoon.
The marks from left to right:

MA in rectangle, is the silversmith Andrejeva Matrena Andrejeva, 1894-1908, a woman (!). What looks strange on the first glance, was a normal habit if her husband died and she remarried one of the employees, to keep the workshop and the stamp.

AC over 1893 is the assaymark and year of assay master Smirnov Aleksandr Aleksejewitsch on duty 1878-1895

84 is the Russian silver content 84 Zolotniki = 875/1000

Saint Georg the dragon slayer is the townmark of Moscow

Regards
Postnikov
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[Qrt.S]

Mind my saying, could be Andreeva Matriona Adreevna but the period is as stated 1894-1908 which tells us that there is a gap of one year (assayed 1893). However, could more likely be Maria-Emilia Adler who also marked MA between 1879-1898. She was a merchant's wife who led a rather big gold and silver workshop in Moscow with 74 work-masters and a turn over of 75.000 Roubles.

Interesting also that my source gives me a different working period for Aleksandr Smirnov i.e. 1860-1894. Which one is correct I don't really know. It's sometimes difficult to know because different sources can give different results, especially regarding Russian markings, which is the case here.
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[Postnikov]

Hi -

I would like to see the above mentioned mark of Adler, Marija Kutznikha (1879-1882 and not until 1898!), who marked MA, from your source. The only known mark of the Adler firm was ADLER in script and Latin in a rectangle with rounded corners. This firm was one of the best, working mostly in gold and jewels, enamel brooches, glas with enamel and enamel easter egs. They worked only a very short time, objects from them are exremly rare but never flatware!
Please rethink your answer.

Regards
Postnikov
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[Qrt.S]

So would I, but unfortunately it is only mentioned not shown in my source that the workshop used this mark (MA).

But we are not talking about the same "Adler" There were several Adlers but in St Petersburg. All of those founded after 1900. However, V.A.Adler existed already in 1856 in Moscow. It was working to the beginning of the 20th century. It's not this factory. It marked "ADLER" as you mentioned.

Anyway, I said: "...could more likely be Maria-Emilia Adler..."
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