Need Help With Hallmark on Cup

[m3krause]

I don't know if this is coin silver, silver, or silverplate. Per instructions at this site, I am posting this question here.
Below are photos of the item and the hallmark. Thank you.

[oel]

Hi m3krause,


Could you please tell us the size and weight of your cup?
How come the cup has this blackened appearance?
If you try to polish ( with silver liquid polish and only a small little spot) the bottom of the cup near the marks does it improve, does it starts to shine like polished silver or will it loose its dull appearance?
Perhaps the photo of the marks is fooling my eyes but it looks to me that the marks are not punched but casted or perhaps a negative image?
Is it possible for you to have the cup tested for silver perhaps at a jewelry shop?
I believe a little acid test should reveal sufficient information, at least about the bottom of the cup if we talk silver gilded or (white) plastic metal gilded.

Oel

[Hose_dk]

this is a barok cup anno 1700-1760 - it is solid antique silver could be german
in danish "nålepunslet" in german Schlangenhautbecher
Sorry dont know marks but when your question is mooved to German silver - someone might know.

It is guilded inside.

[m3krause]

Thank you so much for the information!

[zilverik]

Hi all,

Could be a very interesting beaker. Indeed a silvergilt "Schlangenhautbecher" as I see it. My guess is somewhat earlier than 1700-1760. I know these beakers as 17e century. Could be German indeed, but other areas could be as well, like Swiss, Danish, Dutch. Weight? Size? Provenance?

Regards,

Zilverik

[oel]

Hi m3krause,

Yes, please provide us with the sizes, weight and a photo of the complete bottom of the cup with the marks and a photo of the inside of the cup.Any chance you have the bottom of the cup tested for silver?
The more information the better. Thanks.

Hi All,
Could the spiral mark be an old proofstrike (tremulierstich) ? I know about the zig zag proofstrike.


Oel

[m3krause]

Hi All,
Again, thank you for the information. I am very excited to learn about this item! The cup weighs 125 grams and is 3-1/2 inches tall. I will provide more photos shortly.

[m3krause]

Also, I have not tested the cup for silver. How do I do that? The item has not been cleaned or polished. Yes, it is gold inside.

[Theoderich]

Also, I have not tested the cup for silver. How do I do that? The item has not been cleaned or polished. Yes, it is gold inside.

Do not test it on silver - it is silver - do not polish it.

I will try to find out somthing about this hallmark.

The Makersmark is [DW]
the hallmark looks like a G similar to Glogau about 1800, but
but I am not sure about Glogau in Silesia

[m3krause]

Photos of inside and bottom of cup.
Thanks again!

[oel]

Hi,

Thank you very much for the weight and size and the clear photos.
The cup looks very promising. Please follow up Theoderich’s advice and wait for the German contributors to response.

Regards,

Oel

[Hose_dk]

I agree that it could be before 1700 - but I did not want to raise expectations to high when I wrote.

However polish it - it should still be clean. My guess is that it is guilded inside. And not outside. Outside is dirt.

Silver testing is easy - but even I can see that it is silver (from the picture). You dont have to bother about testing, but polish please. Silver shall shine not look like rubbish.
But no polish inside. The gold would have disappered in case polish over the centuries.

[zilverik]

Hi,

I have a beaker like this with a gilted upper part on the outside. Don't polish it away!

Regards,

Zilverik

[m3krause]

I feel as though I should not polish it. I know it would look better, but since I don't know the value or many details - I am going to leave it alone for now! I hope to find more information in the future!

[Hose_dk]

what info do you need?

It is normal that inside is guilded - it is also common that the top part (that touch your lips) is guilded.
Guilded on the outside is not usual. I would say so rare that you never see it.
Its your descision to polish or not. Let me just say mine are shining.

[Theoderich]

I love the beaker like it is -
An old beaker should looks like an old beaker and I think it is guilded outside.

[Theoderich]

Göttingen is an other possibility, but there was a crown over the G
and I do not find a maker [DW] in the Scheffler-Book

[Hose_dk]

I feel as though I should not polish it. I know it would look better, but since I don't know the value or many details - I am going to leave it alone for now! I hope to find more information in the future!

Now you have put it up for sale. I would have used the term 18th century instead of writing estimated 17th century.
However with your starting price it is up for a loooooooong history with relisting :-)

[m3krause]

Just an update and fyi - with the help of a local expert - new information indicates this item is American made.
With that information, I searched the Internet today and found spoons made by David Weatherly - Philadelphia - with the Weatherly DW stamp. I think they match the stamp on my beaker.

[oel]

Hi,

I believe David Weatherly initial marks differ being; D.W (notice the dot) in a rectangular shield also Weatherly’s W is not the same as on your beaker, and why not in combination with his full name mark.

Oel