Spanish silver, I think

[amena]

I saw two small trays at an antique market that look fairly old. The punching leads me to believe that it is Spanish silver, but I would like to know more. All information will be welcome.



Thanks for attention
Amena

[AG2012]

Hi,
See here:
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=37670&p=164513&hilit=leon#p164513

The same mark on two trays ?
Regards

[amena]

Hi
Thanks for the link. I had tried Monserrat without success
Honestly, it seems to me to see some differences. There is talk of Juan de Leon, here of C.Leon; there is talk of Cordoba, here of Monserrat, and also the shape of the lion seems a bit 'different.
Yes, the two trays are identical and even the punching is the same.
Regards

[AG2012]

I may be phobic, but always suspicious when seeing identical marks on two silver items that survived together 250 years.Possible but unlikely.

[blakstone]

Crístobal José de Leon was the secondary assayer in Córdoba from May 1855 until Sep 1881; the “C. LEON” mark is his, and the digits on top the date: (18)59 or (18)69. “A. Monserrat” is likely the maker, though who that might be I don’t know. This looks perfectly genuine to me.

[amena]

I have to make a clarification.
In the picture I posted previously, the word MONSERRAT had been reduced. In the photos below I have kept the proportions.



It is clear that the C.LEON and MONSERRAT mark have the same size and the same font.
It seems a bit strange to me that the assayer and the maker have such a similar mark.
Unfortunately I photographed quickly and with little light and I have not photographed the back. Even to me the two trays seemed genuine and the handles are assembled with old looking screws.
Thanks anyway for every contribution.
Amena

[blakstone]

Yes, the assayer's and maker's marks on Spanish silver can look very, very similar, particularly in the 19th century; without a definitive list of assayers or makers for a city it can be nigh impossible to tell which is which. Fortunately, there is a reasonably comprehensive list of Cordoba assayers and C. Leon's mark is well-recorded. I note, too, that the maker's mark appears to be "Ao Monsterrat": i.e., presumably "Antonio Monserrat".

[amena]

Hi Blakstone
Many thanks for the full answer
Amena

[Funkel]

Good morning. The rampant lion is the brand for the city of Córdoba. Monserrat in the silversmith and C. León is the assayer. Attached photos.
a greeting

[amena]

Many thanks for the intricate details
Un saludo
Amena

[blakstone]

Funkel - Can you tell us the source of your images? It looks like an interesting reference!

[Funkel]

Claro como no

Punzones de a Platería Cordobesa
Dionisio Ortiz Juarez
Córdoba 1980
ISBN 84-7231-508-8

Regards