Tablespoon

[joho]

Hi - can anyone help with these marks on a table spoon. Spoon looks to date from around 1800. Someone has suggested Maltese.

many thanks John

[JAKJO]

Hi Joho,

I have seen examples of maltese silver with;
- the letter R surmounted by a stag's head,
- R in a shield together with a mark depicting an open hand,
- R together with the year of manufacture (ie 1855).

"The fineness of the silver was indicated by the letter 'F' for French Silver, the letter 'R' for Roman Silver and the letter 'M' for Maltese Silver" according to Victor F. Denaro author of the essay "The Canongate, Edinburgh, and Maltese Silver".
The Roman fineness is 11 deniers or 916/1000.

The maker's mark "AP" resembles Gaetano Offennagel's "Go". The letters are surmounted by a cross or a fleur-de-lis.

Best regards/JAKJO

[joho]

Thanks Jakjo

It seems Malta is the likely candidate. Can anyone help with the maker?

Best regards
John