Help with Spoons halmark

[tma99ion]

I have been told many ideas. but as I am here asking they all turned out to be wrong. What i do know is they are .900 and are not of a german type. anything would be great. I have been told They are Chinese and I also have been told they are Japanese. If I could be sure of thier region. That Would be great. I have been told posibly being Cumshing [img][/im[img][/img]g]

[tma99ion]

https://picasaweb.google.com/100357276545151514729/Spoon?feat=email#5800355565868359458
https://picasaweb.google.com/100357276545151514729/Spoon?feat=email#5800357146338201970

[davidross]

Hello

Please post a close-up of the hallmarks.

Thank you

David R

[tma99ion]

https://picasaweb.google.com/100357276545151514729/Spoon#5800394174781105218https://picasaweb.google.com/100357276545151514729/Spoon#5800394252934428578

(admin photo edit - remember to use the preview button)

[davidross]

The marks appear to be Chinese rather than Japanese, and the spoons look typical of the work done in the vicinity of Hong Kong throughout much of the 20th century.

Sorry, my eyes are not sharp enough to make out the characters in these photos. Someone else may recognize them.

Regards
DR

[tma99ion]

Thank. You for your input. I have been asking all over the internet and yesterday I was told that the markings are hand carved not stamped only because each spoon has slight differences in Hallmark also was told the lettering is ancient Chinese language. All of same type spoon found have lower purity of silver and are not hand carved. Spoons are .900 or higher

[davidross]

The differences in the appearance of the punches may have more to do with the narrowness of the stem of the spoons, the depth and angle of the punch, and variance in wear patterns. Or the punches may actually be from different makers working on one retailer's large order for this particular spoon, which would seem to have been a very popular and enduring design.

If you would like a more definitive answer about the hallmarks, please post photos taken with a camera's macro function of the clearest marks on 2 or 3 of the spoons.

Anyway, many Chinese spoons of this form were made of inferior alloys and never marked at all, so to have a marked set is rather fortunate.

Best,
DR

[tma99ion]

I do not have said camera. I have documentation stating that origin unknown also says they are definitely from late 17th century early 18th century. One of the backs of handles has a finger print in silver. I have been told not to have close up picture of print on internet.

[davidross]

Pardon me for saying so, but if you already had reliable documentation on these spoons, there really would have been no need to post a query on this forum.

The likelihood of these spoons dating to ca 1700--nearly a full century before Chinese export silver production began--is less than slim. That a set of six ca 1700 Chinese silver spoons would be together after 300 years and in such a remarkable state of preservation would be truly miraculous.

If nothing else, a quick search for similar items (try "Chinese silver dragon spoon") regularly offered for sale on the Internet should be enough to convince anyone that spoons of this form are readily available and of fairly recent (i.e., 20th century) production.

Regards
DR

[tma99ion]

So your telling me that I am wrong. Let's first state that my original post discussed my concerns and why I entered them on this forum. I was told by multiple resources to come here and ever since I have I feel that I have had to defend myself for what I have and yes I am not sure. So I have entered them. And I can guarantee that I will never recommend This forum to anyone because of you. I will say that you are wrong. You do know that 20th century Hong Kong would have a British Hallmark on them and yes there are similar replicas of everything online. Oh and for condition all I know is my grandfather says they have been in same case since he was a child and they have been removed 2 times in the past 100+ years and those times have been from me. Trying to find the story not to sell them just to give my grandfather one last adventure before he passes on. But thank you again for being so kind. All I asked was for someone to help will Asian characters. Not to get what you delt out to us.

[dognose]

tma99ion,

You came to the forum requesting help and were given good, sound advice, advice that I totally agree with. But, it would appear, you were not seeking advice, just hoping to find someone who may agree with your fanciful thoughts regarding these spoons.

You need to be aware that members of this forum have gone out of their way to help and assist you, they have done so freely and willingly, and in return, instead of thanks, you have repaid them with rudeness.

Trev.