Not sure where to begin with this one!! A large knife and fork serving set with the blade and tines hallmarked for London circa 1860 and made by GA for Chawner &co. But the handles appear to be Dutch 17th or 18th century cast silver figural sculptures. The handles themselves are not marked that I can see, but the collars between the handles and the blade/tines are marked although the marks on each are different. The one is marked with a scallop shell ? (makers mark?) and what could be a rather distorted Amsterdam mark. The other with a mark I can't make out. Possibly a teapot or, in a different light a script letter. Could they be false/fake marks? Not sure when, why and how the marriage between the handles and blade/fork happened. From the little research I have done I believe that the handles of theis type would have been part of a small carving set with steel blades. The knife is 27cm long.
Any other ideas or theories or information on the marks would be much appreciated?
Many thanks
John
