Help with a set of spoons

[carlos65]

Hello all, I am very new to all of this and I am looking for some help identifying a set of spoons that I have. I am trying to date them and find out what the marks mean. I do not know if these are silver or coin silver

[carlos65]

Any help would be great!!

[2209patrick]

Hello.
Don't think those are American coin silver marks.
Not sure, but Scandinavian might be a possibility.
Will move your post so you will get more help in this area.



Pat.

[Hose_dk]

It looks like Finland
The crown in a heart shape is the control mark of silver
F4 is think is says is 1887/1888
Maker I dont know
City mark I cannot read.
13L is 13 lod - and is corresponding to 13 parts out of 16.
Where 16 is pure silver. Lod was a common figure in Scandinavia - in those days. 13 = 813

[Hose_dk]

you have posted 2 pictures.
Patern name is "musling" - the name of the shell. Very common pattern i scandinavia. Dates back to beginning 1800 and is produced long into 1900 perhabs its even manufactured today. I dont know (for sure) but its very likely.

Last week I bought one from 1924 - danish spoon.

[Hose_dk]

You are proberly american. And you americans think that sterling is something special. Its not.
Danish silver has been regulated since 1400 with the 3 towers instituted in 1608. We have identified almost every silversmith since then.
Swedish silver smiths are registrered since 1520.
Norwegian silver since 1568 - their use of danish tradition since 1608.

We have been using different lod during periods. From 6 lod in times of regression. To normal 13½ lod.

So forget this sterling as the "only silver"

Germany uses 800 and 12 lod in the old days. French silver is 950 where sterling is 925. I could continue.
So you americans must start seeing silver as more complex than just sterling :-)

[admin]

Hose,
What you say is true, but only to a point. Generally speaking, many Americans and Britishers think that silver is only truly silver at .925 sterling standard, but and it is a big BUT, those who take an interest in the subject quickly learn that it is not the purity of the silver that matters, but that an item's craftsmanship, ingenuity, beauty and rarity matter far, far more in accessing its true value.

Regards, Tom

...now, if we could only get you Europeans to accept 14 Karat as real gold, we will have solved a problem (:

[blakstone]

Finland is correct; I believe the city mark is that of Jyväskylä, and the maker A.V.G. is Antti Vihtori Gröndahl, working 1884-1916.

[Hose_dk]

admin
I fully agree. Its the history and the work that matters.
My first real meeting with this was an american couple we meet at a cruise. I had bought a fully marked norwegian spoon from 1742 - perfect condition. They were wery interested and asked - "Is it sterling?" when I replyed, saying 13 1/4 etc. - they reaction "Oh its silver plated!" :-(

ps
In Denmark we also accept 8 carat gold.

[carlos65]

I want to thank all who posted for me. This was my first experience trying to identify a silver item and hopefully not my last. It has been an enlightening and awesome experience. Thanks again.