800 Mark on Small Bronze and Silver Arab figurine

[Adam.NYC]

This bedouin figure is signed and marked on many sections, and it appears that the figure (3.5" tall) is bronze with only the cape and scroll being silver.

It appears that there are marks in English and possibly Arabic. I just don't know what to make of this item. Any information you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Adam

[dragonflywink]

Looks like Italian, 1968 or later. http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html

~Cheryl

[Adam.NYC]

Thanks for looking! I will start there and if I find a province for the letters 'AR' I will look further.

Adam

[many45]

The marks in the first picture, certainly looks Italian, but I'm not quite sure. The mark should be octagonal. It seems to be stamped twice, so it is difficult to see if this is the case. There is a star to the left is there?
However you won't find any province beginning with AR. If it is AB it could be Abruzzi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy
many

[Adam.NYC]

It is impossible to tell if there is a star there because of the double stamp. Anyway, it would be unusual for the Catholic country of Italy to produce this Moslem figure.

It would be interesting, though, to be able to find even one small figurine that was made in bronze with 800 silver accents. At least, I haven't been able to find any on the internet.

So many marks but none which have helped!

[many45]

Are you sure it is a Moslem figure? Couldn't it be a Biblical figure reading an Old Testament scroll?
many

[Adam.NYC]

The ring on top of his head holding the headdress is indicative of Muslim garb.

admin edit -no commercial links

[many45]

I guess you are right about it being a Moslem figure. You have to search within the Arab world, perhaps? I'm afraid it won't be easy to find out.
many

[admin]

Believe AR = Arezzo, your figure appears to be an electroformed piece of recent manufacture. Could be Muslim or Biblical, Italy, like most everywhere today, is quite ecumenical when it comes to marketing.

Regards, Tom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroforming

[Adam.NYC]

Thanks for the information. What about the letters in Arabic and the other marks, such as ncr.1 and MET. I thought maybe 'Met' was short for Metropolitan Museum of Art and this could have been sold by them, but I have no evidence that they sold anything like this in the recent past. (I am actually a member of the museum and have visited many times in the last 30 years).

[many45]

You are right, Tom! Arezzo is a province. Wikipedia is wrong. There are around 100 provinces in Italy, not 20. Perhaps they mix up provinces and regions? I don't know.
many

[admin]

Met = metal, stamped so you'll know that the silver mark only applies to that area of the piece. I think the other mark is a copyright symbol followed by the signature of whomever modelled the figurine.

Regards, Tom

[Adam.NYC]

Thanks so much for THAT information!

Adam

[salmoned]

Why equate a headband with Moslem? Just about any creche figures with robes covering the heads will have similar bands.

[Adam.NYC]

I am still going with that theory because of the facial features and because of the marks which appear to be Arabic.