Salt Shovel Marks Question

[silverly]

Here's a salt shovel that is about 10 cm or 4" long. I don't know anything at all about the marks except that one of them sort of looks like an olive branch and the other one gives me the impression that it is a torch with V A at the base. I'm not sure about any of this. Any help with identification will be very much appreciated.

[silverly]

I'm not sure these are much of an improvement, but I thought I'd try a better shot of the marks. They're only about 3 mm long.

[blakstone]

The “olive branch” was used from 1814 to 1842 in the Dutch southern territories (Belgium, Maastricht & Luxembourg) that were awarded by the Congress of Vienna to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (though it ceasued to be used in newly-independent Belgium from 1832). It was the mark for small, unadorned silver articles and guaranteed the minimum fineness of .833.

The maker’s mark “VA, with a torch" is that of Nicolas Van den Acker (1768-1854) of Brussels. He had an extensive career commensurate with his longevity, working as early as 1784, then throughout both the French and Dutch occupations, and finally in an independent Belgium. He was located in Brussels at rue du Marché aux Herbes, no. 1085 (later no. 1101) from 1807 to 1826, and thereafter at Notre-Dame aux Neiges, no. 13.

Hope this helps!

[silverly]

That is extremely helpful and thank you very much. I did not take it for granted that anything would come to light about this little shovel.
This is truly amazing.