Irish silver bottle, in family c.100 years

[Billabong]

Hello,

Trying to identify hallmarks on this 20cm high silver bottle that has been in our family approximately 100 years.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Not Irish, but Dutch.

Have a read of this topic: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28590

Trev.

[Billabong]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Not Irish, but Dutch.

Have a read of this topic: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28590

Trev.

Dutch?! That's unexpected. The bottle was a gift to my grandmother from a well known Irish figure in first half of 20th century.

Is the MC actually MG do you think?

[Billabong]

And thank you!

[dognose]

I think Jans Rinze Spaanstra perhaps used both, but hopefully one of our Dutch experts can tell us more.

Trev.

[oel]

Hi Billabong,

Dutch silver tea caddy decorated with pseudo marks.

Yes, with three pseudo or fantasy maker’s marks; MC pseudo maker’s mark, a fern leave another pseudo maker’s mark and a running animal (up site down) the third pseudo maker’s mark.
We also have the Dutch Lion Rampant 1, standard mark to indicate silver 934/1000 fineness or 93.4% pure silver, used 1814-1953. And with export key mark to indicate 2/3 duty restitution upon export valid 1853 till 1953. Please check the caddy for an assay office mark and a date letter, the marks could be spread and 'hidden' in the decoration. For Dutch (hall)marks see: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32028
I believe the original maker’s mark reads RS above 158 for; Rinze Jans Spaanstra registered in the cities of Drachten, Wommels, Berlicum and Nijehaske from 1843-1896 and this particular mark used 1843 till around 1864. Rinze Jans Spaanstra registered two maker’s marks; RS above 2 and RS above 158, he is well known to have used this particular set of fantasy marks. These decorative fantasy marks were used to pretend the item could have been made in 17th or 18th century and I believe we could say it worked!


Best,

Peter.

Reference: Valse Zilvermerken in Nederland K.A. Citroen (#230,400,410)