Cake basket, hand raised,repoussé and pierced, 9 X 8 inches. Rare mark of the guild Zombor, Sombor (Austria - Hungary).Early 19th century.
Ligature monogram ``FK`` mark of Franz — Franciscus Kauschiz (registered 1814, ``Germanus``, ``status solitus``).
Provincial Austria — Hungary silver was very often of outstanding craftsmanship and entirely hand made, even after mid 19th century. According to original documents in the Budapest archives (Orszagos Leveltar) silversmiths were graded from 1 to 5, depending on the quality. The city administrator (``Notar``) graded the silversmiths - ``Aurifabri``. The competence of ``Notar`` to evaluate silversmiths is unclear, though — most probably assisted by the president of the guild, ``Probiermeister``, who was the assayer and kept hallmarking tools for ``13 loth`` purity.
Reference: Budapest - Orszagos Leveltar: ``Classificatio Universorum in Gremio Liberae ac Regiae Civitates Zombor professionem exercentium Opificum `` band 1568