Mark on Wine Taster - Have No Idea As To Country

[terri232]

Mark on a wine taster - need some help please with thanks!

[AG2012]

Hi,
The mark is French Minerva head (1838- present). Fineness .800.
Take a look here:
http://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html
Regards

[anikopol]

Hi,

There should be two more marks, especially one more with a lozange shape which is the silversmith's mark.

[JayT]

Here is my input:
-Can we see a picture of the entire item please? What is the diameter?
-It looks cast to me.
-It does not appear from the photo that placement of the Minerva head is where it should be on a wine taster. The silver standard mark should be located on the edge of the cup in proximity to the handle or thumb piece. The thumb piece also should be marked.
-To clarify, after 1838 a maker's mark was not required, just the silver standard mark. Jobbers would make up lots for retailers to apply their own mark.

In short, based on the limited information presented, I have doubts about authenticity.

[terri232]

Found some more marks - you are all so helpful - maybe these pictures will help some more. These are in addition to the mark inside the cup - these are all on the handle.

[anikopol]

Hi,

- On the first pic : a minerva, which also appear here because wine tasters were usually made in two separate parts, that were later welded ;
- On the second pic : not a mark itself ; when the minerva mark was forged, one side of the silver piece showed a minerva, the other side showed this sort of marks so that making false mark was making harder ;
- On the third pic : silversmith, quite small here because this maker was probably specialized in small pieces ; You should try to have a look with a magnifing glass.

[JayT]

To clarify:
The size of the maker's mark is not a function of the size of the object. For example, large objects don't have larger marks than small objects. The size of the mark is regulated, and is the same for all objects. Using a 10X loupe or magnifying glass might show you the initials of the maker.

[terri232]

Here's a better picture