Mystery Item... Dutch Sterling?

[rynegold]

So I'm starting here and, if the mods see need to move it just tell me where it went.
I "think" this is a Dutch piece:




A slide show:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/19089828@N00/sets/72157644337489774/show/

My question is; what was/it for, who made it and when was it made?

regards, mitch

[oel]

Hi Mitch,

Not Dutch but British date letter script D for I believe 1978, Import mark for Chester see;

http://www.925-1000.com/importmarks.html

However the SBL mark in a rectangle is not a Dutch maker's mark, funny enough it look exactly like the British importer’s mark of Samuel Boyce Landeck, London 1879 used, known importer of Hanau style silver with pseudo marks. The scene is typical Dutch, so to speak.
For Samuel's mark see:
Known British Importers of Hanau silver:
http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html
Please check for proper Dutch hallmarks, under the two putti’s I believe I can see a circular mark which could be a little Dutch Minerva head (assay office mark), the marks could be very small and spread over the object. You ought to find a lion rampant, date letter and Dutch maker’s mark.
Oel.

[rynegold]

Wow thanks! So what is it?? I can't think of what you would use it for! And where do you find a chart of year marks past the 1935 chart found on this site? I don't seem to be able to locate one... :-(

Thanks for the response!

regards, mitch

[silvermakersmarks]

Yes, that is a Chester import mark but the script D is the Chester date letter for 1904. Landeck's mark was registered at Chester in 1902 and he died in 1907. As Oel mentions he also registered a London mark in 1879. He is described on his Chester registration as an "importer of foreign silver plate".

Phil

[oel]

Here you go:
http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/date_letters.html

Depending on size but I would say for draining/serving fishy stuff.

Oel.

[rynegold]

Oel, on that link you posted about the maker's mark, scroll about half way down the page and look at the ones for "Weinranck & Schmidt"... mine has that same grapes, wheel, and "thing'a majig" (like a flower blossom, or 'U') that are shown here... Odd.

regards ,mitch

[rynegold]

Great! thanks to you all for such learned responses!... now: what the heck is it??

regards, mitch

ps... I'd like to use it, if I just knew "what" to use it for lol!

[oel]

Yes, you are right! The other circular mark is an other of Weinranck & Schmidt marks. Not Dutch I will kick you over the border to Germany.

Best,

Oel.

[oel]

Hi believe it to be a:silver Pierced Asparagus Lifter, just Google the words and look at images.
Here is a look alike:


Oel.

[rynegold]

I should have shot a side view... I don't think that's what it is. It is not wide enough, the handle is not offset higher (so the server's/user's knuckles aren't in the way, and were you to see it from the side, you would see it has a "bowl" shaped feature. So the whole piece is flat save that inner panel with the windmill scene on it, is "sunken down/dished shaped". Do you follow me? Sort of like perhaps its a strainer of some sort. The entire piece is cast: there's no sheet silver/pierced work on it at all. Another thought would be "what were people eating/doing food and drink wise in 1905? Can't say much would be different than today. No marrow bone spoons or spoon warmers then no?

I give up... but I like it!

regards, mitch

[rynegold]

The whole serving/straining part is only about 5 inches long...

How about "tea strainer" in the shape of the Netherlands?? Is was an export item possibly?

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+netherlands&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=JUNcU6bJA8GryASno4L4BA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=968&bih=676

[oel]

Definitely not a tea strainer, tea strainers have little holes. You could use it to serve; peas, chips, tomatoes or steamed/boiled/fried fish. Just give it a rest and wait for other reactions.

Enjoy your serving utensil.

Oel.