Postby oel » Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:54 pm
Yes, to me definitely a spectacle case and a very fine one! All the correct marks are present also the little import and duty mark & =ET= Étranger =foreign; in the areas of the Netherlands which were annexed by the French ( Napoleon) from 1809 until 1814, this mark was also used as tax free census mark, without any guarantee on the standard of fineness. The mark occur rather frequently on objects bearing the older marks of the Netherlands goldsmiths’ companies plus the duty marks of the Kingdom of Holland, and the 1807-1811 Kingdom of Holland proper hallmarks .
To conclude and carefully looking at your, if I may say not too clear images, and have you cleaned the mark? I strongly believe the makers mark to be HVE for Harmanus P van Eijsen.
The date letter to be X for the year 1782. Again a good, nice looking, 18th century piece of Amsterdam silver. Congratulations.
Oel