Great Exhibitions and Medal Awards

[oel]

Dear Forum,

The Story of Sazikov, what other people wrote:
Exhibition Medals.
GB 1851 Great Exhibition Prize medal of the Exhibition

Double profile of the young Victoria and Albert.

Sazikov. In an appraisal report I read: the firm's production which was exhibited at national manufactory shows was marked with a small and large gold medals; Ignaty Sazikov received a First Grade Medal at the London exhibition of 1851.My question: I have never seen silver items which carry this Exhibition Prize Medal, as an extra mark, next to hallmarks and maker’s mark. Could someone show photos or give more information about this medal stamping on silver? Did price winner Elkington & Co put Medal stamps on its silver pieces? I have seen those medal award stamps on brass and timepieces but never on solid silver. I know in Holland pseudo marks were used in combination with official hallmarks. I do not know if this was allowed in the U.K or in the rest of Europe. Look forward to receiving reply.

Regards,

Oel

[dognose]

Hi Oel,

I've never seen that mark before, what a great piece of work it is.

There would be no problem in the UK with a manufacturer adding a private mark along side official hallmarks, retailers especially, add their marks all the time.

Just to add a more modern example, Ari Norman, a UK silversmith, was granted a 'Queens Award for export' prize in 1989 and added that mark to the official marks for that year.



Regards Trev.

[oel]

Hi Trev,

Thank you very much for your reply. Ari Norman, added 'Queens Award for export' prize in 1989 only to the official marks for that year. Question, do you know if Ari Norman was allowed to add this award mark for a longer time period, or only for the year he won the award?

Regards,

Oel

[dognose]

Hi Oel,

I found this on Wikipedia: 'Winners are allowed to use the Queen's Award emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years.'

Regards Trev.

[oel]

Hi Trev,

Thanks for the very useful information.

Regards,

Oel

[Qrt.S]

Interesting information provided by dognose. But I think there is a difference between an English medal punched on an English object in 1989 and an English medal punched on an imperial Russian object in 1862. Therefore the question: Has anybody seen this or something similar on an imperial Russian silver object?

[Postnikov]

Hi all -

after all main contributors have seen the copyrighted, complete photos of the coffee- tea and salver set in private, it could not be possible, that everybody believe this is Sazikov made! It is a real beautiful set, in my opinion made in France or England - nowhere else were hot water urnes like the shown one made (style) - and later "russificated". There exist only one photo of the marks - but there should be 6 stamps (different) if not 10 as asked by Russian law. One board member (you know who you are) visited the auction. Did you see all marks, in the lids and elswhere? On the salver? What was your impression? The firm of Sazikov could not provide orderly marks on their work? You really believe that? In ernest?

If you look at the shown marks, you can clearly see that the obligatory mark: assayer-year, silver content and townmark is not one coherently punch as normal - but 3 single puches a) hiding a mark (why?) and b) overlapping each other (why!). That is not only wrong, that is incredible! Where is the rising eyebrow of the experts? Why is everybody dazzeled by Sazikov´s name and a photo of some (poor made and struck) marks provided by an known auction house + some fine but not Russian objects? As far as I know, Sazikov was famous for his table centerpieces (with figurines - his main work) and not tea-and coffee sets as the shown. Salvers from him exist neither in the literature nor in exhibitions or catalogues. Why? Do you have explanations for that or just don´t know?
If a simple stopka would be marked like that - everybody would protest and flame the poor contributor. The cup (tscharka) Dad showed: same dull marks, bad enamel work, bad soldering of the handle- in one word a caricature of Sazikov´s work. Is this the stuff you got gold medals for? Sure - no protest from the experts. Have you seen tscharkas from Sazikov? Yes or No? In enamel of this quality? Can you distinguish between Sazikov and nonSazikov? How?

This never ending discussions about ugly fakes or ugly fake marks over pages is real anoying me! If you are the experts who claim to know every written law and nearly every existing mark - why is it so difficult to provide one authentic Sazikov mark - but please not from dubious sources or auction catalogues. I know you can´t show them - copyright! You have no Sazikov object at home? As an expert? Strange! Our Russian friends must have better material than others - no? But fakemarks from Ivanov are not good enough! I am waiting to learn and fill my gaps!

I am really fed up and consider to not participate further on this board!

End of rant!

Postnikov

[oel]

Hello Postnikov,

Thank you very much for your valuable contribution. I share your opinion in this on going Sazikov combined Medal Award mark case.
You are one of the great assets this forum has to offer. We all highly value your contributions. I consider you a great expert on Russian silver and a seasoned collector of Russian silver. Your absents of this forum would be a great lost to all of us, and especially to whom are studying Russian hallmarks & makers’ mark or following the Russian silver section of our 925 forum. Relax and have a brake. Spring time is approaching and the Sun will start to shine for all of us.


Warm regards,

Oel