I would like to know when the tea strainer could be made.

[Elena Russ]

Hello, dear Sirs.

I have the Russia tea strainer.
I know to 1896 year the Russia silver items had bore four marks:
- marker’s mark,
- initial of the assay master with year date below in one cartouche,
- silver standard mark,
- city mark.
My tea strainer has all the above marks besides the year date. I would like to find out when this article could be made.
Thank you.

[oel]

Hi Elena,

Is it me but I have a problem with the ‘Russian’ hallmarks. The first mark does it pretens to be for Moskow? Like you say why is the assyer’s mark or standard mark without a date?. The last mark to the right does look like it has been over strucked! Let us wait for the comments of the notorious Russian experts of this forum.

Regards,

Oel

[Zolotnik]

Hi Elena -

sharper photos of the mark would help. Here is what I see clearly:

Townmark: St. Petersburg + year 1835
Assaymaster: unknown
Maker: C.B = Dovitschev Sergej I. 1834-1851

Early pieces are always marked like that! See example photo: St. Petersburg 1799





A very nice piece in the style of the time!!

Regards
Zolotnik

[Zolotnik]

Sorry, the maker must read: Vdowitschev Sergej Ivanov !

Regards
Zolotnik

[Qrt.S]

Sorry, but I don't think the year is 1835 but 1825. You see as from 1826 to about 1872 the year was separated from St Petersburg's town mark. But as from about 1860 the purity is added to the town mark but not yet the year. As from 1873 the town mark, fineness mark, assayer's initials and the year in two digits are all on one and the same mark. As to the master, CB,I think it is Carl Boyanowksi. The assayer АЯ is not unknown. He is Aleksandr Ilich Jashinov/Jaschenkov 1795-1826. The town mark Zolotnik shows is a valid one but it changed its shape in 1826 by losing the year. In addition, In 1835 there was no assayer with the initials of АЯ in St Petersburg but in 1825 there was.

[Zolotnik]

Hi -

Qrt.S is right - it must be the year 1825! Than all the other marks are as they should be.

Regards
Zolotnik