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This monogram is on the backside of a ladle (Vienna, 1856).
Does it read "MS"?
Is it likely to be an Austrian comital family as the ladle was made in Vienna?
Whose initials would be used (husband/wife/both)?

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... 49#p115349


Thank you! Thomas

I want to suggest a possible alternative explanation, but first, the smaller letters entwined by the M are probably mirrored images of a P. By consulting a lettering guide, you should see that an S is unlikely to take this shape and a P is more consistent. I would rule out a Q as the second letter for similar reasons and the fact that these letters are exactly alike and reversed. Now, statistically speaking, a married couple having the same initials tends to have a low probability (moderated by the number of known names using that first letter in a far too complex mathematical analysis). Further, to have such a couple also turned up as royalty speaks to astronomical probabilities. Besides, how often do the family gems of peerage get lost without documentation? Here's my take..you have entered the period when Grand Hotels are coming into existence. Back stamping a monogram was a normal practice until the era of professional advertising when top-marking became more common. Crowns are often associated with great establishments such as the Hotel Coronado in California. Reversed letters have been used by hotels too in their logos. A personal monogram would be placed topside as it is an added expense and thus creates a showpiece. A ladle is something that often survives commercial services and floats around until it ends up the hands of someone with a real curiosity. Was this item plate ware? Heavy plating is common to commercial service. Try a search in this direction. This monogram may turn up on some piece of old advertising of hotels in relationship to travel services such as a railroad. You're a little early for Wagon Lits and the Orient Express era but establishments often had a long life in the pre-modern age. Just a thought. Good luck.