Dish with F cojoined AN mark

[unclemonty]

Hi,
Does anyone recognise this makers mark its on a small dish ,15cm diameter.

It looks like F and a co-joined AN , I've worked my way through Jackson's to no avail, could it be provincial or possibly continental ?



http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p79 ... 930ec3.jpg

http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p79 ... d63037.jpg


Glen

[oel]

Hi Glen welcome to the forum, I have embedded your image for the convenience of our contributors.



Oel

[unclemonty]

thank you

[dognose]

Hi Glen,

Welcome to the Forum.

Is this the only mark on the piece?

Trev.

[unclemonty]

Hi Trev ,
Thank you and yes this is the only mark .

[Francais]

The problem is obvious, where to start. It could be any of a number of different countries. There are two things you could look for to help us out.
The first is an engraved monogram, anything there? The styles of engraving vary from region to region. I don't see any in your picture, but would like to make sure.
The second thing to look for is scratch engraving on the bottom. First get a good loupe, move the bottom of the plate around in the light. Look all over the surface. Most pieces have some kind of scratch engraving. I have pieces which have the original weight and even the original cost on them. Most museum catalogues ignore these, but they can often tell a lot.
There is one more clue,but probably impossible to obtain. Silver quality. On the outside chance a lab or smelt is in your area, that can test the silver quality. Acid testing, or touchstone testing is better than nothing but x-ray florescence is best, although your piece might be too big to fit into most machines.
Maurice

[dognose]

The problem is obvious, where to start. It could be any of a number of different countries.

Stylisticly the script contained within the punch resembles those used in the area of Poland during the 19th century, but I'm unable to find a match.

Trev.

[Francais]

I thought maybe Eastern Europe too, which should be easy to prove if there is any scratch engraving.
Although if it is Polish, i have no resources to look up the mark.
By the way, could I ask how big the dish is?
Maurice

[unclemonty]

Unfortunately there are no scratch marks , it measures 15.2cm diameter & 2cm in depth.