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Howdy From Texas: What a great forum, wish I had found this knowledgeable group long ago. Below are the links to 2 photos of marks on a Catholic ciborium. One is of the underside of the cup (when taken apart) with rough looking marks. The other looks to be a makers mark (diamond with V + F inside) and an origin or hallmark of a head with swept back hair (possibly Mercury) facing to their right side. The ciborium on first acid test seemed to be 14k gold but could be plated, not sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...Eric




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Hi Eric,
see -> French Hallmarks

add a photo of the object itself if you'd like the topic moved to the French section.

Regards, Admin
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Eric,

File of some of the surface and do the acid test again. Ofcourse on a spot that wouldn't show too much.
Or you could do a specific gravity test.
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French .950 silver, made for export after 1878. Mark would have been struck on gilt silver, but not on gold.

Regards, Tom
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It certainly has the mercury head mark and the V F in the diamond lozenge would normally be the maker.

However, I wonder about the other marks shown in the larger photo. Unfortunately I can't make them out clearly - but they look earlier, and perhaps not even French. The zig-zag mark where silver was removed for assay, for example, was common in Germany.

It it possible that this is an earlier piece - remarked when it was exported?
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Possibly, but on my monitor, I can't see anything except the burin mark. Eric, if there are additional marks there can you post a brighter photo?

Tom
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Great help, I will post new photos later today, I believe there may be some other marks also, this is a great forum...Eric
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Here are 5 more photos of the various marks found when the ciborium is taken apart.

http://users.ev1.net/~younkin/xcib1.jpg
http://users.ev1.net/~younkin/xcib2.jpg
http://users.ev1.net/~younkin/xcib3.jpg
http://users.ev1.net/~younkin/xcib4.jpg
http://users.ev1.net/~younkin/xcib5.jpg
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