Please help me indentify maker

[AGHEAD]

Here is a silver fork I have and hallmarks. Can anyone help identify the maker?



http://i42.tinypic.com/2h8d7io.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2ywa5fs.jpg

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

Thanks for any help.

[Zolotnik]

HI -
photos should not be gigantic - they should be sharp!

St. Petersburg, assay master Karpinskij Michail M. 1825-1838, 84 Zolotniki = silver content 875/1000
G:A.B = silversmith/maker Bernstöm Gustav A.

Regards
Zolotnik

[AGHEAD]

Not sure what happened with the zoom in photos they did not look like that when I downsized them. Thanks for your help.

http://i40.tinypic.com/k3knds.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/xcvmmr.jpg

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

[Qrt.S]

Yes it is Gustav Abraham Bernström 1815-1840. He was a Finn, born 1792 in the county of Porvoo/Borgå in Finland, not a Swede as stated in some sources. He became journeyman 8.7.1812. Then he traveled to St Petersburg and became master in 1815. He produced mostly tableware to the court and was granted the title of court supplier. Bernström was considered a brilliant master making not only tableware but also fine objects of all kinds i.e snuffboxes, kovshes, saltcellars, chandeliers etc. He was married to Catharina Charlotta Sulthov.

[AGHEAD]

Thanks for the additional information. The makers mark is incredible small on this fork, it is 3 mm by 9 mm which is less than 50% of the size of the assayers date mark. Why do you suppose they made marks that were so small relative to the assay, silver purity, and city marks?

[Zolotnik]

Hi -
every civilized country had strict laws according the hallmarking of silver, gold etc. Depending on the country/time the following marks were required more or less: townmark, assayer (year and name), silver content and maker. All this marks had to find a place on the object without destroying the optical impression or pattern but should be still readable without an aid - the customer wanted to see with one glance what he get. Solution: big enough to read, small enough to not destroy the object´s appearance.

Regards
Zolotnik