looking for a strange mark on a single fork - british ??

[robinhood]

I have recently bought this fork on a fleamarket and now I am wondering whether this is a british mark on it or not.......
I know the "normal" marking rules for british silver markings a little bit but this one confuses me a little ;-)

Just a short description of the markings:

1st marking : walking lion in a round, looking to the right
2nd marking : FIR & Co.
3rd marking : looks a little bit like the latin letter "I" but I am not sure...

Maybe anybody here with a good idea about it ?

Thanks in advance and best regards from Germany
Alex

[Waylander]

That design of Lion makes me think it may be Dutch - check the information on Dutch makers on this site and see if it may help. If it is Dutch, we may have to move your post.

Waylander

[robinhood]

Thanks Waylander,
could you please be so kind as to move it to the dutch section please ?

It was my fault looking only at the british section, lions are too british for me :-)

Best regards
Alex

[admin]

Hi Alex,
The lion is neither British nor Dutch. This category has the best potential to yield an answer.
Regards, Tom

[Doos]

Confirmative on it not being Dutch.

[Waylander]

I'm stumped then :)

Waylander

[admin]

I can't find any 19th century examples, but the German town of Lüneburg did use a lion rampant mark.
Tom

[robinhood]

First of all I would like to thank all who have taken some time to look on this "mystery".
The marking of the german town of Lüneburg is showing a lion (according to Jan Davis) but it is looking to the left not to right as my hallmark.
Very confusing.....it is neither British (for sure) nor Dutch (also sure), its not from Lüneburg....hmmm.

What could it be ? Seems to be a hard nut to crack :-)

Maybe anybody here with another idea about it ?

Best regards
Alex

[frenchie_myriam]

Hello all, For me it looks like canadian silver. Canadian silversmiths copied the British type of hallmarks with the lion walking right, marker's mark which were allways initials in a rectangle, or square or double circle cartouche and a letter for the year. As per my book, yours should be from 1933. Hope this has helped.

Best Regards. Myriam

[robinhood]

Hello Myriam,

Canada is unfortunately a country I am totally without any literature for :-(
Your idea sounds reasonable and comprehensible for me, do you have any suggestions for good literature on this subject ?

Best regards
Alex

[frenchie_myriam]

Dear Alex, I found the information in a french book by TARDY called SILVER HALLMARKS 22nd edition and it describes hallmarks from all over the world. Best Regards. Myriam