Coffee spoons. Pavlov ?

[Etranger]

Hi everybody,
here is a dozen of spoons to your attention. Assay mark is ЛО (Lev Olex?) 1892 but master mark is unsidgned, maybe HП or ИП

[Postnikov]

Hi Etranger -

again I have a red flag in my head: 12 brandnew spoons in a brandnew box ( 118 years old !) in top condition - but the marks are quite illegible. Our friend LEV OLEKS (often on fakes) is the assayer, in this case with the correct date of 1892. For years you could not find 6 of this spoons - now the internet is full of 12 in the box! Sorry - but my opinion is clear.

Regards
Postnikov

[Etranger]

Hi Postnikov,
I think the same way about Oleks and strange mark of master. But small spoon is not very good item for marks, I got some from my grandmam and they also have unsigned mark. They were in the family before forgery sick in this country))))

[Etranger]

and what about technic level? have you seen such kit before? i mean with Moscow landscapes

[Postnikov]

Hi Etranger -

for my taste they are a little bit too plump! If it is real niello or just chemical etched I can not see from photos.

Here 12 authentic spoons by Agafonov



Regards
Postnikov

[Etranger]

Hi Postnikov,
thay are still with me so advice how to distinguish real niello from chemical etching?

[Postnikov]

Hi Etranger -

without being unfriendly: how about reading the forum? Many things you want to know are explained there and you can learn a lot of the several resident experts!

Niello quick course

A certain pattern is engraved in a spoon (for example) and than filled with a special mixture-----------------see forum.
After, the spoon is polished and you have the nice contrast between niello and silver.

Fake niello quick course:

A certain pattern is etched by chemical substances on a spoon (for example) and create the illusion of niello.

Regards
Postnikov

[Etranger]

Hi Postnikov,
I didn't quite catch because your photo of Agafonof is a little crop all the landscapes are different?
In my kit I have a 3 similar pair is it an additional fake sign?

[Postnikov]

Hi Etranger -

as far as I now a set consists of 6 spoons. If you have 12 , you have every motive twice. Sometimes you get no complete set but a set made out of different spoons - so you have several motives two or three times. That is not nice but can happen.
Fakes have normal complete sets of motives - but sometimes they are mixed because someone was not careful.

Regards
Postnikov