Scandinavian ? unknown...Help please.

[windhager]

Hi all,

Have looked all over the site but cant find the country,maker or the date on this piece of silver.Looks Scandinavian but cant be sure!

Would be grateful for any of your expert help in itentifying the marks.







Thanks and Happy Christmas to all.

[silverport]

Hello Mr. Windhager

Just before past X-mas you've post your object and question. Maybe you have had already a clue because you placed the item as «Scandinavian» but added by question mark.

The first mark in the row of marks is South Africa's «Springbok».

Actually I couldnt contribute more. But in «925-1000» forum you could take contact to «rat-tail» in Durban/SA. I've studied in between several hundred contributions in «925-1000» and have observed he seems to be that man who has for that area a very profound sounded knowledge.

Kind regards silverport

[rat-tail]

Hi Windhager and Silverport.

Nice looking piece. I assume it is a tot measure, but could be a christening cup. Definitely South African - although it has a Scandanavian style to it.

But I have to apologise and say I am hardly an expert in South African silver, just have the advantage of having seen the odd piece. In fact to be honest probably know more about British silver than South African, largely because the vast majority of silver we see in South Africa was imported from Britain.

South African silver also got off to a very late start. The act of Union which created the country was only passed in 1910, so this piece would be after that date, but stylistically I would say later than that.

There were basically three waves of silver in SA. The first was all the "second hand" or "used" silver the early settlers brought over from Britain, so you see a fair amount of late georgian 1790 - 1820 stuff. Then things were pretty stagnant until the discovery of gold in the Wiwatersrand in the 1880s and Durban as the most convenient sea port to the gold fields exploded. So you see a lot of imported late Victorian and Edwardian pieces (post duty mark silver I call it). A fair amount of Dutch silver, some German and Portuguese, the odd piece of French or Russian. There's still some old Cape stuff and some Indian colonial silver (a lot of colonists left India for Kenya and then for SA).

But by the time South African silver got off the ground, the whole art was already in decline, the first world war and stainless steel pretty much stalling any chance of creating a vibrant local market that could compete with the mass production coming out of Birmingham.

What SA silver we do see tends to be more on the practical side - napkin rings, cigarette cases, cigarette boxes and christening sets, which is why this piece is so unusual and exciting. As a rule our local silver is usually fairly simply constructed, often plain, but relies on a good gauge of silver to carry it off. The only local mark I do know is SAM (or in Afrikaans SAG) for the South African Mint.

I do not know when the springbok mark was first used on silver, but I have only seen it used for sterling pieces, which are usually stamped 925 as well. Lower grade silver is usually just marked silver. I have seen the SE mark on a napkin ring before, but unfortunately don't know the maker. I'll see if I can drop a line to the local mint - but don't hold your breath.

Enjoy your lovely item - sorry I can't be more enlightening.
Regards Frank

Regards Frank

[joho]

Hi
Came across these marks on a set of 13 apostle spoons. They are also marked CM. Is there a Cape Mint? Any ideas Rat-Tail?

John