www.925-1000.com

Any thoughts on maker and time period on this snuff box? Thanks.

Hi,
Millesimal fineness .900, meaning very late 19th century or 2oth century.
Lack of complex marking systems can eliminate several countries e.g. Britain, France.
Lack of characteristic official state marks can eliminate many countries i.e. Spain, Netherlands,Austria.
Likely Germany or Italy and rather newer production.
Unless similar item with the same maker`s mark is found with more specific marks, country of origin would be impossible to identify.
Regards

Hi,

I would say from the style of marking this is likely of Greek origin.

Trev.

Somehow the appearance of the dancing couple (dresses etc.) reminds me of Hungary or thereabouts. The watchers on the other hand wear 18th century Western European clothing. Of course this doesn't necessarily tell where the item was made and it's definitely not from the 18th century.

AG2012 wrote:Hi,
Millesimal fineness .900, meaning very late 19th century or 2oth century.
Lack of complex marking systems can eliminate several countries e.g. Britain, France.
Lack of characteristic official state marks can eliminate many countries i.e. Spain, Netherlands,Austria.
Likely Germany or Italy and rather newer production.
Unless similar item with the same maker`s mark is found with more specific marks, country of origin would be impossible to identify.
Regards

You mentioned “.900”, but I see “800” in the marking. Am I looking at this wrong?

Not much difference 800 or 900.
Higher percentage of silver has better casting properties with lost wax technique, but for enamelling there is no difference, really.
Regards

It seems to me that they are dancing the tarantella

Yes, that's the dance and as I suggested above, most likely Italy.
Regards

Hi members
The painting on the box does not look like enamel to me, it looks like a glued on print. Maybe better images may help.
regards Guido.

Sometimes the enamel was not applied directly to the box but painted on a separate sheet of silver, fired and then attached to the box.
Anyway,it can be easily tested with the tip of a needle.As enamel is actually molten glass the needle cannot scratch it, so, no harm done.
Under 10X magnification one can easily distinguish brush strokes in hand painted enamel from dots in transfer printing.
Regards

Hi Ag
I have not heard of that method applying a finished enamel section on to a case like this,because of the stress on the enamel base during firing if the base is to thin,and then risking some more damage to the enamel attaching it to the case(by what method soldering or some sort of adhesive )causing more problems, it would not make sense to me to do it that way.
As you say looking at it with an eye glass will give you the answer .

As I said it looks like a watercolour on paper to me or a print of the painting.
Regards Guido.

Actually have seen really very few examples of applied plaques and they were riveted because as you say soldering would damage enamel.
Regards