Help! I have a cigarette box with an unknown hallmark!

[Jasen71]

I have a small silver (cigarette) box with a 'Viking' type pattern on the lid. The hallmarks are three letters which maybe (BNP) a ship type hallmark, and number 800. I was thinking it was German, but then I thought it could be eastern european... Any help in the country, maker and what the box means... would be great.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/3bd427/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/3bd425/

[dragonflywink]

Suspect that you're lookiing at a Greek motif rather than Viking, there's a Poseiden's trident around the ship, looks like a siren at upper right, a Greek head (Odysseus?) at lower left, etc. The marks appear to be ΒΠΚ (Beta-Pi-Kappa).

~Cheryl

[Jasen71]

I would disagree... it is not greek... anyone else has an idea?

[admin]

Hi,
Each of Cheryl's points is valid, all the evidence points to Greek origins and it looks as if the imagery was drawn from the "Odyssey". I'd imagine these were made for the tourist market.
Tom

[Jasen71]

Hi Tom, The ship in the centre is a close match to an iona (scotland) viking mottif, and a greek ship has a forward bow for ramming.. secondly the lower left man with helmet is similar to a conical viking helmet rather than a greek helmet which would have fur ridge at the top and side face armour... I was told that the greeks don't have a really active silver industry, nor do they hallmark.. The BNK letters are from the eastern script, but this could place the item to the baltic states... Regards Jasen

[dragonflywink]

Will really have to stick my opinion that your piece is Greek, have handled quite a few Greek souvenir spoons and brooches, generally of moderate quality and usually marked 800 or 925. Have also collected Viking-themed silver for over 20 years and have several Iona style pieces, so understand that you see the similarity in the stylized ships. But your piece is surrounded by the classic Poseiden's trident, there is a Greek lyre in the upper left corner, there appears to be a Greek kylix vessel below the ship, the head is also classically Greek, honestly can't tell what is depicted on the right corners, though I suspect that the upper right depicts a siren on a rock. When you add to all that, the mark being in Greek letters, have to believe that it's Greek and gives a nod to Homer's epic poems.

~Cheryl