Vienna Silver mark - beautiful piece

[gnevzmaja]

Please help me identify marks of this beautiful peace.
Is is genuine? If yes,what could be the purity of silver?
Im thinking about byuing this piece from local antique dealer if genuine.
From what I heard from him it is 150 years old piece of unknown silver purity, weigth is 360grams
Thanx in advance

[Hose_dk]

Right mark is Austria Hungaria
A at top (if it is A) is Wienna
nr i center is purity 12 (if 12) is 12/16 parts of silver
Year is 18?9 the 4 digets read left 1 rigth 8 - both top
bottom ? and I think 9.

[gnevzmaja]

Thank you very much for the answer Hose.
So purity is 12 or 13 loth, that is close enough.
Can you guess left mark ? Lauffer? Is that name of the smith?

thanx again and happy holidays

[gnevzmaja]

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[ARGENTUM49]

It is loth 13 - not clearly seen, but such exquisite pitcher (I suppose it is very heavy) was not made in lower purity i.e.loth 12 . I have seen loth 12 only in provincial Austrian silver. Besides, although I cannot tell the maker — there is an additional hallmark : IMPERIAL HABSBURG EAGLE, meaning that the maker was appointed court silversmith. Just a tip for Vienna silver: it was usually made of thin silver. Your pitcher is probably dated to Biedermeier period. i.e. earlier than 1850 — unfortunately the bottom left number is obscured (later silver was more ornate — famous Vienna ``Rosensilber`` that stands for embossed roses.
Ivan

[ARGENTUM49]

Additional information:
The shape of the hallmark changed in 1814. The difference is clearly seen.
The hallmark of silversmiths appointed to the Habsburg court.
Ivan

[silverport]

Hello

Yes, as »ARGENTUM49« has already mentioned: It's 13 Loth = 812.5-1,000 fineness.

I read as maker's name: Schiffer

I read as year indication: 1839

(Compared the missing upper right material, and set it in relation to the then usual form of the cipher 3. Well it could be also the cipher 5 - but it's also mentioned by »ARGENTUM49«, in that period of 1859 there was another style en vogue!)

Kind regards silverport

[blakstone]

The maker is Franz Schiffer (1800-1854), who received authorization to work in 1827 and became a master in 1832. He was awarded the Imperial warrant in 1846, and his company became Franz Schiffer & Sohn in 1851 with the addition of his son Eduard. After Franz’s death, his widow Franziska continued the firm until 1860.

As Schiffer did not receive the Imperial warrant until 1846 - and therefore would not have used the eagle mark before that - the date of this piece must be either 1849 or 1859.

Hope this helps!