Can't identify A -- mark on teapot, Ames?

[muraille]

I think it's an A and it looks like the A of Ames, except the illustration I saw for Ames doesn't have a "co" below it. The patent 83961 was issued to a Samuel Fisher in 1931 for a design that looks like the one on the teapot. Dont' know if he was part of Fisher Silversmiths but that started c. 1936. Written on top of the oval is "Lotus". There was a Wallace Lotus but it doesn't look like this. So I need help yet again. Thank you.

[la203]

There were also Lotus patterns made by Blackinton, Gorham, Porter Blanchard, Rosenthal, Sorensen, Watson, and Whiting. Having that said, I still cannot seem to find any additional clues for the makers mark or the "Lotus" identification.

Dave

[dragonflywink]

Interesting, the design patent for this Lotus-type ornamental design was issued to Fisher, but assigned to Artcraft Silversmiths of NY, NY - would guess that perhaps Fisher Silver Co. was connected to Artcraft in some way. Rainwater doesn't show anything on Artcraft beyond 1931, and while your mark is unclear, the first letter appears to be an "F" similar to the one used in the first mark illustrated here: http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_F.html

~Cheryl

[muraille]

Thank you but I've since seen other "Lotus sterling" items on eBay and one of them had a better hallmark than mine and it was clearly "A S". How about the one company which signed A S Co, i.e. American Silver Co which may have adopted this fancier logo for the Lotus line?

[dragonflywink]

Ummm, given that the patent for this pattern was assigned to Artcraft Silversmiths Co., wouldn't it make sense that this might be an unascribed mark for that company rather than another?

~Cheryl

[muraille]

Yes, that really makes sense. When I looked up the patent, I only saw that it was given to a Mr. Fisher. How did you find out it was assigned to Artcraft? Thanks a lot.

[dragonflywink]

The second page gives further details.

~Cheryl

[muraille]

Thank you.