Elegant Acid Etched Gilded Knives 850 Silver

[neurorocker]

For your consideration, a set of six unmarked silver table knives (I searched extensively for a mark and found none). These were tested with XRF, and the handles are precisely 850 silver. Blades are gilded iron alloy with zinc. The knife handles are nicely embellished with shell and thread, acanthus leaves, and chevron patterns. The blade handles are acid etched and have a large floral pattern with maybe poinsettia(?) and maybe an egg. The egg is silver plated and the remainder of the blades is gold plated.

It's a long shot, but does anyone recognize the pattern? Any thought as to country or any other insights or ideas? Thanks!

[DianaGaleM]

This is a long shot, but it's possible the "medallion" on the blade is a coat of arms. I can't quite "transcribe" it's appearance into a blazon, but in its simplest form:

Argent, a bend sinister engrailed Gules.

Such arms are described for French COURCY or COURSY:
http://www.coats-of-arms-heraldry.com/armoriaux/rietstap/blasons_COUL_COUR.html

However, the medallion looks more complicated than that. A bend sinister is almost unheard of in English arms, so we would need to look elsewhere for them.

Diana

[neurorocker]

That's an interesting point. Hadn't considered that this part could be heraldic. Would make good sense. As a side note, I would steer all away from getting heraldic translation from the College of Arms in London! I asked those guys to transcribe a coat of arms about a year ago, sent them the money, and nothing. No response at all to communications.

[DianaGaleM]

Sorry you had a bad experience with them. In any case, I would do my own heraldic translations. If you want, send me your item privately, and I'll take a whack at it. No charge.