18th C. Dutch Hallmark

[GFK]

Not sure of the maker's mark for this silver clip. The first letter is slightly obliterated. Has the crowned 3 Saint Andrew's Crosses, with a date letter N for either 1733 or 1758 (a second reference says 1747 or 1772). The maker's mark looks like DV. Could the silversmith by Johannes de Valk, who practised from 1725-1756? Thank you so much for your support.

[oel]

Hi GFK, welcome to the forum.

Amsterdam, 2nd standard or ‘kleine keur’ matches the year 1772 & 1796
Maker’s mark is questionable but perhaps DV, malformed in rectangle. Not for Johannes de Valk because he has been registered in the city of Leeuwarden.
DV, perhaps for Willem de Vries registered in Amsterdam during 1750-1795
But perhaps we looking at IV (malformed) for Jan Vaelhout, registered 1730-1786.
All with all, we do not have a perfect match.I will do some more searching and let you know if anything pops up.


Oel.

[dognose]

Hi GFK,

Welcome to the Forum.

An image of the whole piece may provide some clues.

Trev.

[GFK]

Thank you both for your quick replies. OEL, I appreciate the clarification on the date letter and city of registration. I agree that it may be IV or even JV. Where might I find a sample of Willem de Vries' mark? I looked thru www.zilver.nl for DV, IV, and JV with no clear matches.

[oel]

There are no good open sources about Amsterdam silversmiths' on the internet available, commercial sites provide some and sometimes good information. I use books; Amsterdamse Zilversmeden en hun merken, by K.A. Citroen, Dutch Goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ Marks prior to 1812, by Karel Citroen and use the book; L.B. Gans Goud-en zilvermerken van Voet.
I checked my books, no clear matches, wishful possibilities only. Please remember that in 1807, after introduction of the new Netherlands hallmark system, by law; all information about the city guilds and recorded makers' marks on copper plates had to be destroyed. There are hundreds of unknown/unrecorded guild maker’s marks.


Oel.