Help with Japanese Hallmark/Maker/Silversmith mark?

[lizaburk]

Hi everybody,

below you'll find a picture of the mark on the back of a silver bar, the picture is pretty clear so I'm hoping somebody can identify the 2 characters for me

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6915/dscn0930p.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4092/dscn0939.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )

Thanks.

[lizaburk]

below you will find links for more pictures of the item, my apoligizes to admin for posting such large IMG's directly:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5517/dscn0932d.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3149/dscn0931w.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4899/dscn0934m.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2781/dscn0933a.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/96/dscn0937h.jpg

[joris]

[quote="lizaburk"]

below you'll find a picture of the mark on the back of a silver bar, the picture is pretty clear so I'm hoping somebody can identify the 2 characters for me

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6915/dscn0930p.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4092/dscn0939.jpg

This is Chinese, not Japanese, and the characters on the back are "zu2 yin2" (the "2" indicating the rising tone in Mandarin), which means "ample silver." It's not a maker's mark, therefore. The caption on the bottom of the front side is "chun1 yan4", which is literally "Spring bright" (I suppose "bright Spring" would be more idiomatic English), but can be interpreted more poetically as "amorous love". I'm afraid that I know next to nothing about Chinese silver, and whether "ample silver" is any sort of guarantee of silver content.

[doyle hogue]

i have 2 bars like this and cant find any thing about them if you learn anything please let me know . mine are diferent faces but back is same. thank you

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

[davidross]

The mark 足銀 is a Chinese guarantee of high silver content, generally 90%. However, this mark appears not infrequently on spurious pieces.

Bars like those pictured are among the most commonly faked pieces in the marketplace. I therefore would not rely on the 足銀 mark as a guarantee of silver content on pieces like these, but have them tested for content. Other threads in the forum describe different silver tests (assay test, specific gravity test, acid test, etc).

Regards
David R

[AG2012]

Yes,it is ``fine silver`` but what does it actually mean? They even make jewelry of base metals declared as silver.There are acid testing sets online at less than $20.Do not use a black stone sold with the set.File the plate somewhere where not seen, but deep enough to remove possible silver plating, clean debris and apply a drop of testing acid - it should turn deep red if silver - even as low as 0.750 it will turn red.Otherwise you will get dull brownish color.Clean the place and apply again - sometimes the acid does not react well on freshly filed silver.The very place can be repaired easily with the finest jeweler`s sandpaper - so, do not make a notch with the file but rather flat surface filed off. You will need the acid anyway for further testing - it is good to have one.

[amena]

I also have noticed that sometimes the acid don't react on freshly filed silver. Does anyone know why?

[rauls]

This is a typical modern fake/gift. I don't think it's made by solid silver. This kind of items are easy to find in eBay. Please be careful.