Box. Probably snuff. European maker ?? Silver ??

[sandhillroad]

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This is a little box with hinged lid.
Marks are all inside the piece. Inside bottom, inside lid and inside wall.
Any information in regards to maker, country of origin, silver content and age would be much appreciated. Thank you.

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/9529/aa3lz.gif

[Hada]

This box is of Turkish origin, made during the Ottoman era as depicted by the insignia borne on the lid of the canons, flags and drums. It could be broadly dated to the 19th century. Also the barely visible crescent and star stamp also alludes to the fact that this is an Ottoman era piece. Quite nice actually. Silver content needs to be ascertained by examination.

Regards, Hada

[sandhillroad]

HADA, thank you.

[Martine]

Dear Sand.....

The marks on the silver box although quite worn off, With a letter P, (Poinçon de Jurande- House of Silversmiths) this letter P and variations, was used for the city of Paris in France at the end of the 18th century. starting in 1784 (Réforme de Bernier ); There should be a 84 or 85 or 86...... till 89 beneath the crown . It is what is called le poinçon de Jurande
One of the 4 marks you have to find in the box.

And how do we recognize that it's a Parisian maker , silversmith of the 18th century ?

Well, because there is a mark with a set of different letters (2 or 3) , sometimes with a symbol, the whole crowned , and under the crown on each side of the upper letter 2 points , like small spheres, called ' grains' in french. for the 'tolerance' of the silverstandard.
(Silver Standard in Paris: 11 deniers 12 grains ( au 2 grains de remède) which is +/- 954/000...

Set of French marks in the 18th c, You should also find a Poinçon de Charge , which is a letter A for Paris till 1789. and a Poinçon de décharge . ( Those are Duty marks)
Those two are quite worn out here. Or the pictures don't allow to read them correctly)


The ornamentation and style of the box, which could be a tobacco box, is typical of the Louis XVI period in Paris and France.
This ornamentation is called a 'cartouche avec des attributs de Musique'. ( Music instruments) You can also find ather attributs.(War, etc) .
This is really typical of the Petit Trianon , Versailles etc...at the time of Louis XVI and his Wife the queen Marie Antoinette.

If you want to know more about French marks, buy the book called: Guide de l'Amateur d' orfèvrerie Française- Louis Carré.
Written in french of course...


Hope this will give you the pleasure to know that your box is really a special object and worth keeping in a nice 'vitrine' .

Silvery Yours
Martine

[sandhillroad]

Merci, Martine