Help with marks

[ctree1066]

Please can someone help with these marks appears to be letter N struck 3 times?

[silvermakersmarks]

This appears to be the pre-1697 London maker's mark of Anthony Nelme. It was also used by his son Francis after the restoration of the sterling silver standard in 1723. The use of three maker's marks is often associated with "duty-dodging", i.e. avoidance of assaying and the associated payment of tax.

Phil

[amena]

I have often wondered why a silvermith who commits an offense by "duty-dodging" is so foolish as to accuse himself by putting his personal mark on the piece .....
Can anyone explain it to me?
Amena

[juantotree]

I don't believe pieces marked like this are so called "duty dodgers", as you say it would make no sense to sign your name to a criminal act.

Maybe the item was made for personal use or as a gift to a family member of the silversmith, or possibly a piece of silver brought in by the customer for re-working and therefore no silver is actually being sold, just payment for the labour involved.

Only possibilities of course.
Martin

[AG2012]

So, the basket in pristine condition is more than 300 years old ?

[ctree1066]

Thanks guys, I have my doubts about this piece I can’t help thinking that the base has been let in.

[legrandmogol]

I've never seen a piece from that era in the Trampe O'iel style before and the engraving seems more like 19th-century neo-rococo. But I could easily stand corrected.