German ? Spoon

[joho]

Hi - can anyone help identify place and maker of this tablespoon. From its style, I think it might be German. It is stamped 14 1/2, which I presume it the silver loth standard, and makers mark AH cojoined. Many thanks. John

[Hose_dk]

A similar AH exist in denmark, town of Skive
Frederik Adolf Harder born approx 1790 in odense.
master september 9th 1824 dead 1858

Bøje douments 14 lod mark, as 875 used in 1800 if 14½ existet - dont know.

[joho]

Thank you Hose - yes Scandinavia was my first thought, in fact I found almost identical makers mark for Andreas Hansen Hind working Bergen 1760 to 1799. But can the style of this spoon be Norwegian or Danish ???? This is my concern. Maybe the administrator can move this to the Scandinavian site? best regards John

[Hose_dk]

It is not a patern that is familiar to me.
The Bergen master uses AH but, foot of the letters are missing in his mark.
The danish mark has similar feet.

[Qrt.S]

I don't either think that it would Andreas Hind in Bergen. By the way, he was born 1762 and died 1799. His working period was rather short only 1791-1799. Anyway, his mark does not have serif fonts as there are on the showed mark. The purity of 14½ lot is also a rather strange fineness for Norway. I cannot recall seeing it on Norwegian silver, but 14, 13½ or 13¼ could have been the fineness. But as you said yourself almost similar :-))). The Danish alternative is more likely correct, but?

[joho]

Thanks Qrt.S - Could be from Denmark. The problem I have with Hose's suggestion is that I think this spoon is too old to be from the hand of F A Harder. It is quite heavy, with rounded bowl with elaborate drop on the back of the bowl. I have seen variation of this type from Germany 2nd half 18th century. I have never seen 14 1/2 before!!