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Hi Forum,

I purchased this niello architecture spoon awhile ago and it just arrived today. The maker mark is poorly struck but I am wondering if an identification is still possible? I believe the assayer mark should be that of Anatoly Artsybashev from Moscow 1888-1898.

The maker mark looks to me like "BA" and I was able to identify 4 people who used "BA" in Moscow during this period:

• Vasily Agafonov, Mark: BA or BCA, Active: c1895-c1917
• V Akimov, Mark: BA, Active: c1860-c1908
• Vasily Alexeev, Mark: BA, Active: c1897-c1898
• Vladimir Alexeev, Mark: BA, Active: c1898

Does anyone have an idea of who the likely maker might be (or if anyone on this list can be excluded)?

Since my previous post I found some examples of similar niello spoons which have been attributed to V. Akimov.

Unfortunately, I also came across a previous topic on niello spoons here https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49559, and it now seems there is a reasonable chance that the spoon in question is not authentic.

Under magnification I am unable to identify traces of engraving, so I am wondering if these spoons may have been decorated with the "painted" niello technique mentioned in the previous topic.

Looking for a second opinion on the authenticity of this spoon and clarification if any of these "painted" niello spoons are authentic.

While I did purchase this spoon through a well known online auction site, it just occurred to me that the seller is an antique shop which was established in 1974 in Hungerford, England. After looking into them further, it appears they are also an accredited LAPADA dealer (London & Provincial Antique Dealers Association).

While antique shops may not be impervious to fakes/forgeries, this certainly lends support to the spoon being authentic.

There is uneven patina and oxidation close to niello lines and areas; meaning there is engraving, shallow though, but engraving in niello is always rather shallow (unlike deeper cells in champlevé).
In a word,looks authentic.This type of spoons varied in quality, and not every niello was perfect and flawless.
Regards

Great to hear, thank you for the excellent explanation!