Oval openwork bowl holder? Diamond shaped marks. Provenance?

[NiMa]

Hi,

This item has interesting marks that I have not been able to identify, both on the openwork and on the legs. I bought it in England, but the marks don't seem to be English.

This was sold as silver plate. The base metal is heavy gauge, and even though the plate is all worn off, it is an pretty piece.

Besides information on maker and date, I would appreciate information on its original use. The middle of the bottom is reinforced and has two holes. Why?

Kind regards!



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[2209patrick]

Hello and welcome.

All I can tell you is that the diamond shape mark is a British Registry mark. Check here:
http://www.925-1000.com/registry.html

Pat.

[NiMa]

Thanks very much Pat, for the very helpful information!

I'm new at this - just getting the hang of silver hallmarks - and hadn't yet even "discovered" registry marks. Were these commonly used on silver or silver plate?

If I interpret them correctly, the item is from around 1868. The body seems to be one side of that date, and the legs on the other.

Can anyone give any guidance as to the original use of the piece?

Or who the maker could be?

Thanks in advance!

[doc]

I think the piece was originally the base of a cruet set and would have originally had a handle in the middle. I cannot figure out the year mark on the registry mark from the body, but based on the placement of the letters and numbers, it is earlier than the legs, which have a date mark of 1869.

[NiMa]

Thanks, Doc, the central handle makes sense. There are wear marks inside indicating that something cylindrical with a diameter of about 2.8 cms must have been fastened to the body at some time using the central hole.

Thanks also for confirming my reading of the marks - I also couldn't read enough to date the body exactly, but came to the same conclusion that it must be earlier than the legs due to the placement of numbers and letters.

Kind regards

NiMa